The Fort Knox gold depository, built in the 1930s, was rarely opened to outsiders. On September 23, 1974, a rare exception was made when 120 journalists, members of Congress, and Treasury officials were allowed inside. The visit aimed to dispel rumors that the gold reserves had been secretly removed.
For years, conspiracy theories claimed that billions of dollars in gold had vanished. One of the loudest voices was Peter David Beter, who alleged that Fort Knox was nearly empty. Pressure mounted, and the Treasury Department finally agreed to an inspection, breaking its long-standing policy against public access.
Reporters and officials boarded buses to the highly secured facility, passing through multiple checkpoints. At the vault, Treasury officials cut the security seals in front of the visitors, revealing stacks of gold bars. Mint Director Mary Brooks declared, “I’m very happy to show the country that the gold is here.”
Some skeptics still questioned whether all the reserves were present. While the inspection proved gold was inside, it covered only a small section of the depository. Doubts persisted, and Fort Knox has never again been opened to the public, leaving questions about its full reserves unanswered.
For decades, Fort Knox has been shrouded in mystery. In 1974, after claims that the gold reserves had vanished, the U.S. government made a rare decision. Over 120 journalists, members of Congress, and Treasury officials were invited inside to prove the gold was still there.🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/BHzpmba2Qr
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