In 1953, this 2,665 foot long tunnel along the West Virginia Turnpike required $5 million to construct through the mountain that divides the Paint Creek and Cabin Creek watersheds. Memorial Tunnel, so named to honor all West Virginians who had served in the armed forces, boasted some of the advanced engineering and construction technology of the day. The tunnel featured television cameras to monitor traffic, an advanced ventilation/exhaust system, and its own 10,000 gallon water reservoir. For additional safety, fire extinguishers and fire hydrants were spaced at regular intervals along the walls of the tunnel.

In 1987, the Memorial Tunnel was bypassed with massive four-lane road cut. It now been converted to 79,000 square feet of training space for emergency responders. The Center for National Response (CNR)  was set up to train those who are the first to respond to emergencies, ranging from the top levels of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Guard units and the Red Cross to fire, police units, and local sheriff's departments. The CNR offers training for these first responders to deal with a variety of incidents, from multi-vehicle highway accidents to terrorist attacks with weapons of mass destruction.