Management

Visitors join a park volunteer at the glass viewing enclosure over the silo. The Delta-09 silo site preserves the park's namesake, a Minuteman II missile, in the launch tube; today Delta-09 remains the only fully preserved Minuteman II silo and represents a key part of America's Cold War defenses.

NPS/Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

"...it is a story bigger than that of missile silos. It is the story of the Cold War and how it affected our lives. It is the story of the Air Force's role in the defense of our nation. It is the story of the people of South Dakota and other states who lived alongside military installations..." - Mr. Tim J. Pavek - testifying for the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site Establishment Act before Congress on September 14, 1999

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site was authorized by Congress in 1999 to preserve Delta-01 Launch Control Facility and Delta-09 Missile Silo as nationally significant examples of the Minuteman II missile defense system. The park's mission is to interpret the historical role of that system as a key component of America's strategic commitment to preserve world peace in the broader context of the Cold War. Minuteman Missile must balance the competing demands of its dual mission: providing for a fulfilling visitor experience while protecting and preserving the historic resources located here.

Please explore this section to learn how park staff are planning for the future of the park for our visitors, spending fee dollars for preservation, as well as applicable laws and policies used to preserve and protect the park.

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