Minuteman Missile Visitor Center – Philip, South Dakota - Atlas Obscura
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Minuteman Missile Visitor Center

Philip, South Dakota

Dedicated to the history of the 1,000 nuclear missiles that once covered the Great Plains.  

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Minuteman Missile Visitors Center PatrickRohe (Creative Commons)
Minuteman Missile Visitors Center PatrickRohe (Creative Commons)
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At the Minuteman Missile Visitor Center, visitors can view the various artifacts and displays associated with this Cold War nuclear launch site. Inside are artifacts relating to the Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missile System and the role it played in the Cold War. Visitors can also learn about why South Dakota was chosen as the launch site for this missile system. 

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site is the only NPS unit specifically designated for the Cold War. From 1963 through the early 1990s South Dakota was home to 15 Launch Control Facilities that controlled 150 Missile Silos. Two still survive- Launch Control Facility Delta-01 and Launch Facility (Missile Silo) Delta-09. The latter contained a fully operational Minuteman Missile from 1963 to the early 1990s. From the 1960s to the early 1990s, there were 1,000 Minuteman missiles. 

There is no entrance fee and reservations are not required to enter the visitor’s center. However, if you want to tour one of the launch facilities (a few miles away), reservations are required along with an entrance fee. The entire Minuteman Missile National Historic Site is an exciting history lesson made even more interesting by the knowledgeable docents.

Know Before You Go

The site is directly off Exit 131 on I-90. Plenty of free parking.

missiles cold war military history
Nearby
Giant Prairie Dog
1.62 miles
Delta-09 Minuteman Missile Site
14.22 miles
Conata
16.43 miles
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