![]() (For comparison, the Hiroshima and Nagasaki explosions were approximately 13 and 21 Kilotons). Upon reaching its target the missile could unleash a 300+ kiloton nuclear explosion. Although this order never came, if it had, the missileers could command the Minuteman to launch from the LF and race 6,000 miles at 15,000 miles per hour towards its target. ![]() In the LCC were two Air Force "missileers" who could respond to a presidential order to launch the missile. , Approximately 15 miles away was a launch Control Center (LCC) that controlled this LF. In this underground silo, from 1966 to 1997, one of humankind's most powerful weapons-a nuclear-tipped Minuteman missile-stood waiting to be launched. You are on the access road to November-33 - one of 150 Launch Facilities (LF) of the 321st Strategic Missile Wing (SMW) of Grand Forks Air Force Base. Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site. 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.November-33: "Ace in the Hole". 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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