Who would think that the Italian Renaissance building at 33 Liberty Street held more gold than Fort Knox? Though built in 1919-1924, most of the Fed’s gold arrived during and after World War II when countries were trying to seek out the most secure location for their gold. Though it does not hold the 12,000 tons of gold that it once did, it holds 25% of the world’s gold reserves, making it the largest depository of gold in the world.
The infamous gold vaults lie 80 feet below street level and 50 feet below sea level. To ensure maximum security of the gold, two New York Fed gold vault staff members and one member from the New York Fed internal audit staff must be present anytime the vault is open, even to change a light bulb.
Despite these safety precautions, the vaults are open for free public tours.
| wiki | 33 Liberty Street |
| wiki | Federal Reserve Bank of New York |
| sight | Landmarks Preservation Commission |
| sight | About the Fed: Gold Vault |