Volunteers Needed for Historic Nike Missile Program

Date: October 13, 2015
Contact: General Park Information, 305-242-7700
Contact: Volunteer Program: Shawn Badwen, 305-242-7752
Contact: Media Contact: Linda Friar, 305-242-7714

Calling all Nike veterans and Cold War and military enthusiasts! We need your help! Everglades National Park (Park) houses one of the best preserved relics of the Cold War, a Nike Hercules Missile Base (HM-69).

As we approach the National Park Service Centennial we at Everglades are working to enhance the visitor experience here as one way to celebrate this milestone in the National Park Service's history. More volunteers for the upcoming visitor season (November to April) will helpthe Park create and providemoreranger guided toursof the missile base, assist in capturing oral histories

,and collaborate with other Nike veterans and Missile Bases throughout the United Statesto better preserve and interpret this historic site for our visitors.

The missile base was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers at the height of the Cold War and was crucial to the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962. It remains virtually the same as it was when official use of the site was terminated in 1979 and the decommissioned base turned over to the Park. In 2009, the history of the Nike Hercules Missile Base HM-69 was interpreted to the public for the first time and has become one of the park's most popular tours.

Mandatory volunteer training for the Nike Missile Base programs is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2015 (8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.). The Park requests a minimum of a 3-month commitment from volunteers. For more information about the Nike Missile Program Volunteer positions, please contact the Volunteer Office at 305-242-7733 or 305-242-7752.

For information and directions please call [phone] during regular business hours,MondaythroughFriday,8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information about Everglades National Park:

 https://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm

For information about the historic Nike Missile Base and its tours, please visithttps://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/historyculture/hm69.htmor

https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/nike-missile-tours.htm