Minuteman Missile National Historic Site shooting for 2003
In the good old days, our trained missilemen could loft one of these puppies into the upper atmosphere in a matter of minutes. But things move much more slowly since we wore out the Soviets. We first reported on Congressional approval funding a Cold War missile museum at an old Ellsworth AFB site three years ago. The missile complex, near Wall, SD (home of Wall Drug, has finally been signed over by the US Air force to the National Park Service.
The plan is to tell the story of the Cold War, and let visitors get a peak at a deactivated Minuteman II missile in its silo. The site is scheduled to open by summer 2003.
[10/11/2002]- Address:
- 21290 SD-240, Philip, SD
- Directions:
- Park HQ is on south side of Exit 131 off I-90, beside the gas station. Launch Control Facility Delta-01 is 4 mile west of headquarters. Launch Facility Delta-09 (missile silo) is south of I-90 just off exit 116, approximately 15 miles west of park headquarters (Coords: 43.931626, -102.158886)
- Hours:
- Summer tours M-F 9 am, 1:30 pm, other M-F 10 am. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 605-433-5552
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour