Four places near St. Louis where World War II bunkers still exist

ST. LOUIS – Remnants of World War II history are scattered throughout the suburbs and outskirts of the St. Louis area. Nearly a century later, some military bunkers still exist in their best condition.

Bunkers, also known as fallout shelters, played a crucial role during World War II, providing a base of protection against the threat of enemy attack from the air or ground. They also held critical supplies, weapons, and explosives that the U.S. military could use for defensive or offensive operations during prolonged periods of conflict.

Bunkers dating from World War II still exist in at least four locations near St. Louis. This shouldn't be too surprising given the region's history of developing atomic weapons through the Manhattan Project.

History buffs continue to find the preservation of military bunkers fascinating, so much so that one man made it his mission to explore the St. Charles County bunker site in early spring.

So where do World War II-era bunkers still exist around St. Louis? Let's take a closer look.

NOTE: Keep in mind that most of them are in restricted areas and may require certain permissions to visit them.

August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area

Location: Weldon Spring, Missouri (St. Charles County)

The Missouri Department of Conservation purchased the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area from the federal government in 1947. The MDC reports that the Department of the Army used the area “as a TNT munitions factory to support the effort to the Second World War “. The area still includes over 100 original TNT storage bunkers.

A YouTube influencer with a series called “The History Underground” recently posted a video in which he spotted four bunkers and explained their historical context. “They built these bunkers everywhere, and inside they housed these explosives until they were ready to be moved to another location,” he explained.

Some bunkers still housed older materials, while others were empty or defaced with graffiti. Still, the influencer thanks the conservation area for its restoration efforts.

University of Washington Tyson Research Center

Location: Unincorporated West St. Louis County, Missouri

The Tyson Research Center is an environmental station at the University of Washington that enables research and education opportunities. It is also home to the Endangered Wolf Center, dedicated to protecting endangered wolves.

According to the Endangered Wolf Center, some past tours began inside a World War II bunker. The federal government once built 65 camouflaged bunkers into the hillsides. The bunkers were 30 and 10 meters deep and stored ammunition and other military supplies.

The University of Washington acquired the land in 1963 for the research center, and at least two bunkers are still used for food and hay storage, according to the Endangered Wolf Center. The university also used a bunker at the research center for a recent study on music and the arts.

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

Location: Carterville, Illinois (Williamson County)

The Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge promotes several major habitats in southern Illinois, including hardwood forests, scrublands, wetlands, and lakes. It is a great attraction for foxes and birds, especially bald eagles.

Several decades earlier, the federal government had placed bunkers around the area “for the storage of bombs, mines, shells and other high explosives,” according to the shelter. The bunkers are restricted by various security patrols as some still contain live ammunition.

Last year, organizers announced an auction of several non-explosive items still stored in the shelter's bunkers. Southern Missouri television station KFVS reports that those items included vintage televisions, typewriters and transceivers.

Sangamon Munitions Factory

Location: Illiopolis, Illinois (Sangamon County)

Historians say the Sangamon Munitions Plant produced 24 million artillery shells and more than 100 million artillery and bomb detonators and propellants throughout the 1940s in support of World War II. With production came numerous bunkers located around the factory.

According to a report in the State Journal-Register, the factory closed near the end of the war and many of its buildings were dismantled. Since then, the land has been transformed into an agricultural zone.

Trainorders.com bloggers claim that the bunkers were still scattered across farmland and existed “with mounds of dirt and vegetation on top” in 2014. It is unclear how many bunkers around farmland may still store items or if public access is permitted. Over the years, various YouTube videos have explored the abandoned lots.