Glass structure over the silo allows visitors to look down at the missile
The glass enclosure allows visitors to view a Minuteman II missile in the silo. NPS Photo

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

National Historic Site · South Dakota · National Park Service

During the Cold War, a vast arsenal of nuclear missiles were placed in the Great Plains. Hidden in plain sight, for thirty years 1,000 missiles were kept on constant alert; hundreds remain today. The Minuteman Missile remains an iconic weapon in the American nuclear arsenal. It holds the power to destroy civilization, but is meant as a nuclear deterrent to maintain peace and prevent war.

Plan your visit

Know before you go

Phone
6054335552
Official site
www.nps.gov
Managed by
National Park Service

Getting there

Directions on Google Maps →

Things to do

Highlights: Engineering · Military · US Air Force (Army Air Corps) · Science, Technology and Innovation · Social Movements · Tragic Events · Wars and Conflicts · Cold War

Activities & features: Guided Tours · Junior Ranger Program · Park Film · Museum Exhibits · Shopping · Bookstore and Park Store

Photos

  • A cylindrical missile inside an underground silo.
    NPS Photo
  • Two people are visible at the missile silo through a chain link fence
    NPS Photo
  • A brown building behind a tall fence with warning signs
    NPS Photo
  • A large metal blast door with art of a Domino with a nuclear missile
    NPS Photo
  • A painting of a nuclear missile bursting through a Soviet Flag
    NPS Photo
  • View down a silo at a nuclear missile
    NPS Photo
  • Night view of the Delta-09 site
    NPS Photo / Caroline Rohe
  • A modern building with a prominent glass clerestory dominates a prairie landscape at sunset
    HDR

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65 parks mapped in South Dakota

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Guides for the trip

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Sources: National Park Service, Google Places · updated 2026-08-12