Aerial view of missile base in Everglades
National Park. Credit: National Park Service
The National Park Service has opened the historic Nike Hercules Missile Base HM-69 in Everglades National Park to the public for the first time since it was turned over to the park in 1979.
The park is offering guided tours of the base at 2 PM each Saturday through March 28.
The base, a well-preserved relic of the Cold War in Florida, is the best remaining example of the U.S. missile defense system close to Cuba. It remains virtually the same as it was when official use of the site ended.
Located just 160 miles from the Cuban coast, the base was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1963, at a time when national security against Soviet attack was America’s main priority after the Cuban Missile Crisis of October, 1962. The base was listed as a Historic District on the U. S. Department of the Interior’s National Register of Historic Places on July 27, 2004.
The area comprises 22 buildings and structures, including three missile barns built to contain 41-foot missiles (some with nuclear warheads), a missile assembly building, a guard-dog kennel, barracks, and control centers within berms that served as blast protection.
Missiles on launching pads at the base
Credit: National Park Service
Historic images
The accompanying photos show the base in operation. In the aerial view, the complex in the foreground – now Everglades National Park’s Daniel Beard Research Center – is where the base offices, armory, mess hall, and barracks were located. Visible in the background, about a mile away, are the missile barns that held the Nike Hercules missiles.
The other photo shows three missiles on their platforms, ready for launching. They were pushed from within the barns at left and set on the launch pads. The soldiers in the photo were called "rail apes" because they were constantly pushing these missiles around on a rail system.
Three other, similar bases also were built in South Florida: in north Key Largo (now Key Largo Hammocks State Park), in Miramar (now a Publix shopping center), and west of Miami (now the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Krome Detention Center).
The base tours are free, after participants pay park entrance fees. Reservations are required and will be taken up to 30 minutes before each tour. To reserve, call 305-242-7700 or sign up at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center nine miles southwest of Homestead, FL, on State Road 9336. Participants must arrive in the park by 1:30 PM and be prepared to drive in a car caravan for the 14-mile round trip from the visitor center.
Other Everglades stories:
Birds and birders converge on Everglades
Chekika: A little-known Everglades access point
Comments
I visited Everglades National Park recently, and it was a wonderful experience. This added attraction should put it over the top!
In the summer of 1973 I worked for the Youth Conservation Corp in Everglades National Park.We were housed in an old migrant farm building app. 1/4 mile from this missile base. We ate breakfast and dinner at the base daily. The soldiers stationed at the base were good to all of us Y.C.C. people.Seeing the article brings back memories.
I was stationed at the Nike base in 1973 and I remember your visits to the mess hall very well. It was a real novelty for us to have so many young civilians in that isolated military base! So... how did you like the chow? Did you know that the Nike missile site was declared a national historic place? The museum and a scientist once asked me if I had photographs of the area from the 1970's to compare with the current scene. You should contact them if you do.
I was also a member of the YCC of 73 youth camp and also remember the many mornings and evening going to the chow hall for food. One of the best times of my life. One of the best Parks in the Country.
I was the design Civil Engineer for the 4 Nike Hercules missles sites in South Florida
I was the design Civil Engineer for the four Nike Hercules sites in South Florida
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