The Minuteman Missile National Historic Site will host its first ever night program at 8 p.m. Thursday, June 12.
"This will give people an opportunity to see an important part of the site - the missile silo - at night in a unique setting," said Park Ranger Pam Griswold. "It is going to be a really cool experience."
The Minuteman Missile site is the only one of its kind that the public can view and until now, there has never been an opportunity to get a special tour of the silo while it is lit up.
"There has never been an opportunity to do that at night that I know of, unless you have worked on the Minuteman system," said Park Ranger Chris Wilkinson.
Congress established the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site in 1999 to tell the story of the Minuteman ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) system. About 1,000 Minuteman sites were sprinkled throughout the upper Great Plains during the Cold War.
The program will begin at the National Grasslands Visitor Center in Wall at 8 p.m., but the doors will open at 7:30 p.m. for visitors to view the exhibits and displays inside. Wilkinson will then give a presentation about Minuteman Missiles in South Dakota and their role in the Cold War.
"The Cold War was, in my opinion, a shadow that hung over the world," said Wilkinson. "The site will take you back to the era of the Cold War and what it was like all over the country during that time."
The program will also include a film about the site, including footage of an implosion. The visitors will then follow Wilkinson via car caravan six miles east to the launch facility to view the training missile on display. They will learn how a missile would be launched and the devastating power of nuclear weapons.
"We hope to offer a few more of the night tours throughout the season," said Wilkinson. "We'll see how it goes. It will be based upon public demand."
Public demand has not been a problem at the site, as their day tours are booked through July. They have seen visitors from 48 states and many foreign countries including Israel, Taiwan and Colombia. Almost half of the visitors last summer said the Minuteman Missile site was their top destination while touring western South Dakota.
Space is extremely limited for daily tours and it is best to make reservations in advance. Every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon, the site hosts an open house. All tours are free.
For more information visit www.nps.gov/mimi or call the site at 605-433-5552.
If you go
What: First-ever night program at the Minuteman Missile facility
Where: Meet at the National Grasslands Visitor Center in Wall
When: Thursday, June 12. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the program begins at 8 p.m.
Cost: Free
