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Aerial View of Nike Missile Base Launch Area

A Relic of The Cold War

Everglades National Park houses one of the best preserved relics of the Cold War in Florida. An historic Nike Hercules Missile Base, dubbed HM-69, remains virtually the same as it was when official use of the site was terminated in 1979. 

This missile base was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, completed in 1964 at the height of the Cold War, immediately following the Cuban Missile Crisis of October, 1962. At a time when national security against Soviet attack was America's main priority, the United States Army chose this strategic site within Everglades National Park, located 160 miles from the Cuban coast, to build an anti-aircraft missile site.

An Historic Site

The base was listed on the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Register of Historic Places on July 27, 2004 as an historic district. The area includes 22 buildings and structures associated with events that have made a significant contribution to American history. Some of the extant structures include three missile barns, a missile assembly building, a guard dog kennel, barracks and a number of other features.

This base was part of a larger missile defense system built in South Florida in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis. There were four Nike Hercules missile sites; B Battery in north Key Largo (now Key Largo Hammocks State Park), C Battery in Miramar, D Battery that is now the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Krome Detention Center, and A Battery located in Everglades National Park.

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Nike Hercules Missiles on launching dock.

HM-69 was also highly significant because of the technologies employed. Unlike other missiles in the continental United States (CONUS), it used missiles and a high-power acquisition radar (HIPAR), which were rarely used at Nike missile sites at the time. The HIPAR radar could locate targets at much higher altitudes than other systems. Additionally, the site used the Army's anti-tactical ballistic missile technology. This was one of the earliest weapons systems designed to shoot down incoming missiles. The South Florida missile defenses were also integrated with HAWK missile sites to provide an all-altitude defense capability around South Florida.

Approximately 140 crew operated the three aboveground missile barns and guarded against attacks from Cuban air strikes. The personnel of Battery A received a meritorious unit commendation from President John F. Kennedy, which was one of the few times the award was presented for a Cold War deterrence mission.

Tours are offered from December to April, check the events calendar or contact the Nike Site Coordinator via email or call (305) 242-7015 for more information.

A Unit Roster of the 2nd Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillary lists those who served at the South Florida Sites. Please contact us with corrections / additions.

For more historical information please download the Historic Resource Study, produced by the National Park Service.