During the Cold War, a vast arsenal of nuclear missiles were placed in the Great Plains. Hidden in plain sight, for thirty years 1,000 missiles were kept on constant alert; hundreds remain today. The Minuteman Missile remains an iconic weapon in the American nuclear arsenal. It holds the power to destroy civilization, but is meant as a nuclear deterrent to maintain peace and prevent war.

Behind this blast door is the control center where two missileers kept a constant watch over ten nuclear missiles.

"Thirty Minutes or Less"

Night view of the Delta-09 site

Night view of Delta-09

The visitor center at sunset.

Minuteman Missile Visitor Center

A Minuteman II nuclear missile remains on alert, representing the 1,000 missiles which kept a constant vigil during the Cold War.

Minuteman II Missile

The glass enclosure allows visitors to view a Minuteman II missile in the silo.

Delta-09 enclosure

Located next to the elevator, this painting served as a reminder to missileers who they were defending the United States against.

Morale Art of the Cold War

A visit to the Delta-09 missile silo allows the opportunity to consider the role of these missile in America's defense during the Cold War.

A winter visit to Delta-09

For thirty years, US Air Force staff monitored a flight of ten nuclear missiles at the Delta-01 Launch Control Facility.

Delta-01

A park ranger leads a tour in the underground control center

Park Ranger leads a tour in the underground control center

Visitors can peer through the glass at a Minuteman II missile in the silo at Delta-09.

Nose-to-Nose with Armegeddon

Morale art reminded missile officers who the enemy was during the Cold War

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

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