Urban Exploring at ISU

[ornryactor]

This is one of the most entertaining (and pseudo-educational) thread CF has seen in years.

I'm assuming this is beyond the scope of access anyone here has ever had, but I've heard pretty substantial (and consistent) rumors that Gilman (or some part of that building-complex) goes much further underground than most people realize, and that most of those bottom levels are high-security controlled access. It's usually said that it's related to secret-ish research at the Ames Lab. Anyone know about a secret underground military super-lab underneath Gilman/Ames Lab?

 

[MidwestZest]

This is one of the most entertaining (and pseudo-educational) thread CF has seen in years.

as if CF has been around 10 years..... :wink:

 

[jaretac]

This is one of the most entertaining (and pseudo-educational) thread CF has seen in years.

I'm assuming this is beyond the scope of access anyone here has ever had, but I've heard pretty substantial (and consistent) rumors that Gilman (or some part of that building-complex) goes much further underground than most people realize, and that most of those bottom levels are high-security controlled access. It's usually said that it's related to secret-ish research at the Ames Lab. Anyone know about a secret underground military super-lab underneath Gilman/Ames Lab?

There are rooms in the basement of Gilman that are permanently sealed off due to radiation. I'm not sure where they are, but I was told that by the Ames Fire Captain that is in charge of Ames Hazmat.

 

[chriscyzer]

I just drove by the "Shrine" 10 minutes ago. I was going to go slow and take a pic with the phone but the guy was standing right there! He was in the ditch burning something. Old guy kinda skinny wearing a hooded sweatshirt under a coat. He turned and looked so I waved! ha ha.
I was surprised at how close to the road it actually was. Damn it I need to drive by again slower next time. I could tell that it needs a fresh paint job though.

 

[bos]

There are rooms in the basement of Gilman that are permanently sealed off due to radiation. I'm not sure where they are, but I was told that by the Ames Fire Captain that is in charge of Ames Hazmat.

Wouldnt it be something to see whats in those rooms from the past. Its almost like a glowing time capsule. Nothing has been disturbed since sealed.

 

[Flag Guy]

I have my doubts about sub-basement laboratories... especially since Gilman was built in 1913 and the super secret projects didn't come until later (an addition was built in 1963)

History of Campus Buildings at Iowa State University

 

[bos]

Wow does it look lonely out there. A massive structure with nothing much around it.

 

[Flag Guy]

Interesting read regarding all of this

Ames Lab 60th - The 1940s

 

[keepngoal]

Interesting read regarding all of this

Ames Lab 60th - The 1940s

• A display of three sets of 24 metals produced by processes developed at Ames Laboratory are sealed in three time columns at Amarillo, Texas, during the centennial observance of the discovery of helium gas. One column will be opened in 25 years, another in 100 years, and the final column at the end of 1,000 years. The display sets each contain a brief description of the processes developed at the Lab and an overview of the Lab and its history.

 

[4429 mcc]

You know there has got to be a ICBM on ISU's campus somewhere!

 

[bos]

Interesting read regarding all of this

Ames Lab 60th - The 1940s

Did you read the 50's? It appears that some bickering went on between ISU and the government about intellectual property.

 

[MidwestZest]

I could tell that it needs a fresh paint job though.

I bet you could get plenty of people from the site to help out and paint it....CF tailgate + playground painting.... :yes:

 

[MidwestZest]

BTW - does anybody know anything about the little 'midget house' on campus ave, a few houses south of oakland? it's like, a 1 1/2 room house. with a loft i assume. Smaller than most efficiencies in ames. I don't even know how it could have running water.

 

[Clonefan94]

My cousing always talked of touring the steam tunnels in the late 80's. I never got to make the trip with him though. I know he had a few odd access channels because of helping out with research in Chemical engineering.

 

[bmuff]

For a minute, you had me stumped. I was pretty sure I'd heard of and seen everything on ISU's campus, but I'd sure never heard of Spangler Lab, so I looked it up. Applied Sciences Complex? Come on, that is NOT "on campus". By that definition, the new dairy farm down in Ankeny is "on campus", too! I will give you, though, that the whole ASC is creepy as all hell. Gives me the heebie-jeebies just being in the parking lot.

Nothing scary about the Applied Sciences Complex these days. There used to be a nuclear reactor out there, but not any more. The guard shack set up at the entrance is gone. It's now home to quite a few ISU employees.

 

[Flag Guy]

I always liked walking by and seeing this

• Sixty-seven rare and common metals valued at $10,000 go on display in Spedding Hall. The periodic chart of metals will be a permanent exhibit.

 

[Flag Guy]

Nothing scary about the Applied Sciences Complex these days. There used to be a nuclear reactor out there, but not any more. The guard shack set up at the entrance is gone. It's now home to quite a few ISU employees.

We have a pretty well known Non-destructive Evaluation program out there now

Ran into some people the other day that recognized my Iowa State shirts, said they've been out there for that a number of times. These are guys in industry out in Maryland telling me we have a good program there :yes:

 

[Cyclonic]

This is one of the most entertaining threads I've read ever on this site.
It is almost borderline educational. What is wrong with us? Fascinating stuff.

 

[Flag Guy]

Man we did all sorts of stuff at Ames lab...

• Lab scientists develop a method for tracing the source of explosives used in bombings. The process involves adding “chemical fingerprints” to explosives. After an explosion, these fingerprints, or tags, can then be detected from the debris and traced to the manufacturer.

 

[scottie33]

After watching the vids above this one came up on youtube of a great vid of the shrine

YouTube - Good Shrine Video

I've been trying to keep up with all this stuff but have been gone the last few days...where is this Shrine located at and how do you get there? Is this linked with where the 2 girls were killed by a car or something in northwest ames?

I'm interested in going out there and looking at it