Denver Airport
No airport in the world has been the subject of such persistent conspiracy theories as Denver International.
Soon after the first flight – United’s service to Kansas City – left the tarmac, the murmurings began. They initially focused on the view of the airport from above.
The resemblance to a swastika is just the start
But there’s more. Conspiracy theorists soon turned their attention to the airport’s interior. Over the years Denver International has made strides to fill its terminal building, and the surrounding area, with artwork. There was Mustang, by El Paso artist Luis Jiménez. The giant sculpture actually killed poor Jiménez in 2006, two years before Denver adopted it. A section of it fell on him, severing an artery in his leg.
But it was a collection of bizarre murals by Leo Tanguma, now removed, that really generated interest.
With names like "In Peace and Harmony With Nature" and "The Children of the World Dream of Peace", they depicted – the artist said – the triumph of environmentalism and peace over war and destruction.
They also point to other “masonic” symbols, such as this stone (pictured below), which features in the airport’s “Great Hall”. The New World Airport Commission, eh? No such organization exists, people were eager to point out. Yet.
The presence of gargoyles is also said to demonstrate that something “evil” is lurking.
So what is the true purpose of Denver International Airport, if not to usher in travelers to the state of Colorado? Some conspiracy theorists would claim it is a giant military base, or even a concentration camp, just waiting to be used to assist in the enslavement of the American people.
They point to the high cost of the airport - $4.8 billion . That’s nearly $2bn over budget.
They point to the amount of land used – 34,000 acres, or 140km2 - more than any other US airport.
One of the murals seen in the airport
There’s also vague references to a vast underground facility, that may or may not connect to other deep subterranean military bunkers throughout the country.
So what does the airport say? It declined to answer Telegraph Travel’s queries (as well it might), but Robert Blaskiewicz of the Sceptical Inquirer managed to pin down Matt Chasansky, the Art Program Manager, and Jenny Schiavone from the airport’s media team, back in 2012.
“You name a conspiracy theory and somehow we seem to be connected to it,” said Chasansky. “But probably the most common is that there’s an underground city and that it is a part of a network of underground cities that the government or some sort of shadow international government, or aliens, are building, depending on your perspective... or Masons...
“I can’t give a tour in the airport without at least one person attaching themselves to the tour and starting to ask questions about it. There’s not [any] evidence you can provide, there are no assurances you can give that the conspiracy theory is wrong, because ... obviously it’s going to be a cover up or brainwashing or chips installed in brains.”
Cover-up or common sense? Make up your own mind.
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