National Underground America Day
Imagine a day that celebrates life beneath our feet. National Underground America Day honors the 6,000 North Americans who reside not just on the Earth but within it. These unique homes, nestled underground, offer a harmonious blend of innovation and nature.
Living underground provides many benefits. The Earth acts as a natural insulator, maintaining steady indoor temperatures and reducing energy consumption.
Additionally, these homes often blend seamlessly into the landscape, preserving the natural beauty of the environment. This day highlights the potential of subterranean living to promote sustainability and harmony with our planet.
How to Celebrate National Underground America Day
Celebrating National Underground America Day offers a quirky opportunity to explore the world beneath our feet. Here are some playful suggestions to mark this unique occasion:
Dig into History
Visit local caves or underground tunnels. Discover the secrets lurking below your town. Guided tours often reveal fascinating stories and geological wonders.
Host a Subterranean Soiree
Transform your basement into an underground-themed party zone. Dim the lights, play ambient sounds, and serve “buried treasure” snacks. Friends will love this cozy, mysterious atmosphere.
Screen an Underground Film
Set up a movie night featuring films set below the surface. Classics like “Journey to the Center of the Earth” or documentaries about subterranean habitats can transport viewers to hidden realms.
Plant a Root Garden
Celebrate by planting vegetables that grow underground, such as carrots or potatoes. This activity connects you to the earth and provides delicious rewards.
Build a Blanket Fort
Channel your inner child and construct an indoor fort. Use blankets and pillows to create a snug hideaway, mimicking the comfort of an underground dwelling.
History of National Underground America Day
National Underground America Day started in 1974, thanks to Malcolm Wells, an architect with a big idea. He wasn’t interested in towering skyscrapers or sprawling cities. Instead, he dreamed of homes and buildings nestled beneath the Earth’s surface, blending into the landscape rather than disrupting it.
His passion for underground architecture wasn’t just about design—it was about sustainability. He believed the future of construction should work with nature, not against it.
Wells spent much of his career promoting earth-sheltered living. He saw how traditional buildings consumed energy and altered the environment, and he wanted a better way. Underground structures, he argued, stayed naturally warm in winter and cool in summer.
They required less energy, created less waste, and protected open land. His ideas weren’t just theory—he put them into practice, designing innovative underground spaces that still inspire architects today.
Creating a national day wasn’t about self-promotion. Wells wanted to spark curiosity and challenge people to rethink what a home or workplace could be. Could living underground be a smarter, greener choice? Could buildings exist without scarring the land?
He hoped this celebration would encourage exploration and creativity. Even those who never considered underground life might start seeing the possibilities.
Over the years, the day has grown beyond just architecture. It now highlights sustainability, energy conservation, and a deeper connection to the planet.
His vision still matters. As cities expand and resources shrink, looking beneath the surface might hold the answers. National Underground America Day isn’t just about homes under the soil—it’s about thinking differently, questioning the norm, and finding smarter ways to share space with the world around us.
See what else is happening…
There’s always more going on every month at Days Of The Year. Here are our favorites this month!
Also on ...
View all holidays
National Dance Like a Chicken Day
Gather your friends and family, put on that funky music, and do the classic, goofy, ever-popular Chicken Dance to get moving and, undoubtedly, laughing.
World Stationery Day
Forget text messages and emails for a day, and return to the days of hand-written, thoughtful letters by breaking out your old stationery and writing your loved ones.
National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
Bake up a storm with buttermilk biscuits! Indulge in their fluffiness and savor their buttery flavor. From breakfast to dinner, these delicious treats are perfect any time of the day. Get ready for a biscuit feast!
We think you may also like...
Use Less Stuff Day
Cutting back on things, like a green champ! It's like giving Earth a high-five, all while making life simpler and cooler.
Collect Rocks Day
Be a geologist for a day and see what interesting rocks you can find. Pick up a book on local rocks or hop on the internet to identify what you find.
Hug A Shed And Take A Selfie Day
They hold our gardening tools and extra storage, reflect our quirks, and often go unappreciated. Get outside and Hug a Shed…and Take a Selfie with it.
