SOUTH DAKOTA
Bang! Missile Site Allows Visitors to Tour Explosive Former Top Secret Area
By Lauren Hensley
With the ability to strike a target 6,000 miles away in less than 30 minutes at speeds over 15,000 miles per hour, a Minuteman missile could travel the length of the United States from east to west in 10 minutes, according to the National Park Service.
The Minuteman Missile complex in South Dakota was first constructed in 1961 to house nuclear missiles. In 1992, the missiles were removed from their silos
Spanning over 15 acres, the Minuteman Historical Site is located in both Jackson and Pennington counties in South Dakota. It is home to many remnants left over from the Cold War, including a launch control facility known as Delta-01 and a launch facility Delta-09, a missile silo.
The site first opened to the public in 1999. Over 4,500 historical artifacts are housed at the complex.
“At the site visitors can see replica missiles, uniforms worn by the Missileers, and also the communication devices used between launch control facilities and missile silos,” said Pam Griswold, director of the Minuteman Missile Site.
During the summer months, visitors of any age are welcome to take a 30-minute guided tour of the site at either of the two available times slots, 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Here, guests can see launch facility Delta-09; a silo that housed missiles, which sits 80 feet deep and 12 feet in diameter. Visitors can now look down a glass roof at an unarmed missile. Visitors also have a chance to have questions answered by a National Park Service ranger.
If a guided tour does not interest you, the park also offers a self-guided cell phone tour during the summer. This allows guests the option of roaming the area by themselves, while stopping at any of the 10 ranger recording sites along the way. The cell phones play recordings about the history of the site and Minuteman missiles across the Great Plains.
Although most tours run during the summer months, beginning October 1st through the spring, one tour per day is given at 10 a.m. During this time, guests can visit the site’s contact station where they are welcome to watch a film about park.
A Junior Ranger Program helps children and teens learn about the missiles.
For more information or to make reservations, call (605) 433-5552 or visit www.nps.gov/mimi
Lauren Hensley is a senior at Franklin College, majoring in public relations and sociology.
After completing the required activities booklet, children receive a certificate and patch to show the accomplishments of finishing the Junior Ranger program. Photos from the Minuteman Historical Site.
While touring Launch Facility Delta-09, a National Park Service ranger is on site to provide historical information and answer questions from visitors. Photo from the Minuteman Historical Site.
