The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, located in the heart of New York City's Financial District, houses the world's largest known depository of monetary gold. This is the only place in the United States where you can see and learn about the storage of this precious metal.
Touring the Gold Vault
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York offers free tours to school groups and student programs, which may include a visit to the gold vault. Here's what you can expect on your tour:
- Security: The vault is located five stories below street level and is protected by a massive steel cylinder that weighs 90 tons. The vault is also surrounded by steel-reinforced concrete walls and is monitored 24 hours a day by security cameras and motion sensors.
- The Gold: The vault contains thousands of gold bars, each worth approximately $500,000. The gold is stored in compartments that are assigned to individual account holders, which include foreign governments, central banks, and international organizations.
- The Tour: During the tour, you will learn about the history of the Federal Reserve System, the role of the New York Fed, and the importance of gold in the global economy. You will also get a close-up view of the gold vault and the gold bars it contains.
Additional Information
- Tours are by appointment only. You must make a reservation in advance.
- Tours are offered to school groups and student programs only. The general public is not currently able to tour the vault.
- Photography is not allowed in the vault.
References
- Federal Reserve Bank of New York:
- Field Trip Directory:
- NYC.com:
- Holidify: