Minute Man Missile Site Tour

As promised......a photo tour of the site.  You can follow along here and I will describe the numbered areas:

Stop1.  The site was still locked up when we arrive a few minutes before 9:00 AM:

You can call the self guided tour number from anywhere and I'm sure it will play:

605-301-3006

Stop 2.  The tour guide describes the Cold War and reason for deployment of the Minute Man Missiles.

Stop 3-4:  Also see above for a picture of the Missile.  There wasn't enough light to photograph the mock-up missile on site. By Treaty, abandoned sites have to be destroyed.  Sites such as this one, used as museums, have to be partially open to show the missile inside the glass.  This allows monitoring via satellite to prove that the site is not active.  We watch the Russians and they watch Us.  You will see a similar arrangement at the Titan Missile Museum in Tuscon, AZ.

Stop 5: Hardened Ultra High Frequency Antenna.  Allows the missile to be launched from a remote air system in case the Launch Control site has been damaged.

Stop 6: Soft Support Building (under ground) houses the diesel generator to maintain electrical power in case of a power outage.  Power for the missile site can from the regular power grid.

Stop 6A: Diesel Vents and personnel access for maintenance.

Stop 7:  Access hatch for missile maintenance.

Stop 8:  Surveillance Systems.  This antenna (white post in the center of the frame) scanned the vicinity and notified security of a breach.  Frequently wildlife set off the systems as the passed closed to the fence.

There was also video surveillance.  Anyone found on the site without authorization could be shot on sight.

This concludes our Tour of the Cold War.......