![]() The missile silo was a self-guided site, but tickets were required to tour the launch control facility. The real attractions - the launch control facility and the actual missile silo were located further west. A couple of interpretive signs flanked the entrance, and inside was a small theater showing movies. After all, growing up, I'd heard so much about these silos, but never got to see one for real.Īfter spending all morning touring the Badlands, my family and I stopped by the headquarters of the Minuteman Missile National Historic site, which was merely two glorified trailer houses set next to a roadside gas station. But I decided to keep an open mind - it might be alright. Truthfully, I wasn't all that interested at first. It was on our return route, so we'd be in the neighborhood. Using these Cold War-era facilities, they established a National Historic Site aimed at educating the public about this period of history.ĭuring last month's South Dakota trip, when I proposed visiting the Badlands, my brother suggested we visit the missile silo site too. But I didn't realize that the Park System saved an abandoned silo and launch control center. Shortly after 1991, I'd heard all these silos had been removed, and the missiles decommissioned. The silos and launch centers were built in the early 60s, and remained in service until 1991, when the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty was signed by US and Russia. The entire facility covered 13,500 square miles. ![]() ![]() In it's heyday, this corner of South Dakota contained 150 Minuteman II Missiles, and 15 launch control centers. These missiles could reach their targets in 30 minutes In college, my friends and I met lots of air force guys stationed at these places, who described themselves as "missile cops." (Supposedly one of the most boring jobs in the Air Force) We'd make somber predictions about how, in the event of a nuclear war, due to all these missiles, the Russians would likely wipe our state off the map. Growing up in Southwestern South Dakota in the 70s and 80s, I was well aware that nuclear missile silos existed on the prairies east of town.
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