![]() ![]() In order to deter communist aggression and address the apparent missile gap, the US Air Force developed the Minuteman I missile system with the ability to respond to an enemy attack with immediate and massive retaliation. President Eisenhower responded by increasing spending on missile development as would the next administration under President Kennedy. To stunned Americans, Sputnik seemed a sure sign that the Soviet Union was indeed leading in missile technology, and would soon develop ballistic missiles that could reach the United States. Also, signage is not very big when trying to find this place so I suggest to get acquainted with how the outside looks and you won't drive down the road past it thinking - I am in the middle of nowhere and nothing is out here - which was part of the reasoning for putting it there in the first place! But, a wonderful countryside to drive through.During the early years of the Cold War a push for improved technology was driven by a desire to surpass Soviet missile technology to overcome what seemed to be a growing "missile gap.” The Soviet launching of Sputnik, the world's first satellite, in October of 1957 intensified that push. A note on leaving: I was heading to Grand Forks and not far from this site is one of the missile silos cemented over in the ground. She personally knew some of the people who spent time below during the cold war which made it that more special. For one thing, the young lady who gave the tour was one of the most knowledgeable tour guides I have come across in my many travels. I did not think I would be as interested in this subject as I ended up being. I could have easily spent another hour and I was already there 2.5 hours. There is also a 20 minute video one can watch which I did not. I know for a fact we ran through the top portion, but it was at my request. I was the only person on the tour and told the guide I only wanted a certain length but it was so fascinating we may have gone over while below. ![]() I was planning on a couple of hours but the tour is kinda set to be a certain length. Originally, I was not going to Cooperstown but the rain said otherwise. Very tight squeeze for wheelchairs in the control room - if that's a deal breaker, i'd call ahead and double check accessibility. OK for those who have mobility challenges - there's a large elevator down and ramps through the blast doors. Take the time to watch the film before going on the tour. The upper level/housing quarters are straight out of the late 1980's which is a nice flash back, but it really does give you a sense of what it was like to be out in the middle of nowhere waiting for nuclear Armageddon. It's utterly fascinating to think that our national security for almost 4 decades rested with low-level military personnel in North Dakota using 1960's-era technology. The best way I can describe it is picture every villain's lair from the 1960's era James Bond films and that's what it looks like. Yep, that's the greeting you get when you walk into the non-descript and, frankly, unimpressive looking above ground facility at the Oscar-Zero Minuteman site - but down below is a trip back through time.
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