Minuteman Missile National
Historic Site: Protecting a Legacy of the Cold War

(National Park Service) T he Minuteman was one of the most significant strategic weapons in U.S. history. With the turn of a key, the missile could deliver its nuclear weapon to a Soviet target in 30 minutes or less. It was a weapon for which there was virtually no defense -- for a war no one could win. For nearly three decades Ellsworth's 44th Missile Wing stood on alert. Then in 1989 the Berlin Wall fell.¹ Dispersed across the rolling high plains of western South Dakota during the Cold War were 150 Minuteman Missiles. These missiles held warheads that could have been used in a devastating counter strike against the Soviet Union in the event of a nuclear war. The industrial might and mechanistic strength held within the underground silos were in stark contrast to the above-ground fields of golden wheat and pastoral grazing lands. For three decades -- 1963-1993 -- thousands of people passed through this seemingly peaceful area unaware of the destructive force hidden beneath the landscape. The Minuteman system transformed the prairie into a military and technological frontier. As the first solid-fuel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile ever deployed by the United States, the Minuteman enhanced America's military capabilities. It was a key component of America's Cold War policy of deterrence and by extension helped facilitate a peaceful end to the Cold War. Designated in 1999, Minuteman Missile National Historic Site protects and preserves two significant sites on this former Cold War missile field in rural South Dakota. ¹ Testimony of Tim J. Pavek, Minuteman II Deactivation Program Manager, U.S. Congress, House of Representatives, Hearings before the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands House Committee on Resources, 106th Congress, September 14, 1999.

TABLE OF CONTENTS About This Lesson Getting Started: Inquiry Question Setting the Stage: Historical Context Locating the Site: Maps 1. Minuteman Missile fields in the United States 2. 44th Missile Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base Determining the Facts: Readings 1. The Cold War Escalates 2. Development of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles and Deployment of Minuteman Missiles 3. Silent Soldiers: Missileer Duty Visual Evidence: Images 1. Sputnik 2. President Kennedy with SAC Commander Thomas S. Power at Vandenburg Air Force Base 3. Construction of Launch Control Center 4. Missileer in the Launch Control Center 5. Launch Control Facility Delta-01 5. Launch Facility Delta-09 Putting It All Together: Activities 1. The Minuteman: Part of our future or a relic of the past? 2. Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles: America's Cold War Deterrent 3. Nuclear and Cold War: A Shadow over the World Supplementary Resources

RELATED INFORMATION How to Use a TwHP Lesson Lessons on Related Topics TwHP Home National Register Home About the National Register How the National Register Helps Teachers Contact TwHP Minuteman Missile National Historic Site The lesson is based on the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, one of the thousands of properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Continue

Comments or Questions
Privacy & Disclaimer
Site optimized for V4.0
& above browsers

TCP