Seems like I am getting into the ‘tour’ business, starting with the Queen Mine tour in Bisbee last time.
After a few days camping in the National forest near Parker Canyon Lake with friends from the area, we headed further west and toured the Titan Missile Museum south of Tucson. It is a cold-war relic, and the only preserved missile location. Almost the entire facility is deep underground to protect it from attack in the era of ‘mutually assured destruction’.
Here, the huge concrete cover is pulled back to reveal the top of the Titan rocket.
Radar sensors on the surface to detect intrusions; and missile silo cover.
This elevator disappeared completely underground when not in use. Most of us used the stairs. There was an elaborate security system in place during crew changes including video surveillance, secret codes, and burning the code paper in front of the camera! You have to pass through multiple ‘blast doors’ to get inside – each weighing about 6 tons! .
The main control room consoles, where the crews worked 24 hour shifts. Most of the areas had to be attended by minimum of two men at all times, for safety and security.
Despite being buried deep underground and behind multiple blast doors, the entire control room complex was mounted on these huge springs to absorb shock. All equipment is bolted to the floor, and the floor is not attached to the walls. The red cabinet held the launch keys, and could only be opened by two individuals, each with their own combination! The tour includes a simulated launch!
A long tunnel from the control room leads to the rocket itself.
A view of one of the huge ‘blast doors’, viewed from above.
Outside, these various compartments held back-up communications antennas that could be deployed out of their secure compartments in the event that the regular antennas were, um vapourized in a hostile nuclear attack. Scary times back then for sure. Luckily, this missile site was never used, nor were any of the many others, except for test purposes. This one was designed to be used once, and once only.
Since Hailey is just approaching her first birthday, she appeared to be quite unconcerned about nuclear holocaust, and the whole concept of cold war.
She was much more concerned about chasing butterflies and leaves around the campsite.
Hailey; high-centered on the head-rest.
This post takes me back to my Air Force cadet days - I did a brief stint in a Minuteman missile silo much like the Titan ones. We're going to be in Banff this summer in case you're interested in meeting a retired guy and his newly-retired wife. We'll be on our way north.
ReplyDeleteDidn't know about that Titan missle site south of Tucsan but I wonder if the Russians did. I wouldn't mind seeing that & I remember those days well when all that spy vs spy cold war stuff was going on. Scary times for sure. Been a few years since we've been to Why but we did take a liking to that dusty little burg in the middle of seemingly nowhere. Might be heading out in few days for points North:))
ReplyDeleteThere are old abandoned missle silos just west of Roswell, NM. YOu can see a couple of them not too far from the highway. One of them just north of Roswell used to have a family living in it. Those were from the Cold War days and Norad.
ReplyDeleteEmjay
There are old abandoned missle silos just west of Roswell, NM. YOu can see a couple of them not too far from the highway. One of them just north of Roswell used to have a family living in it. Those were from the Cold War days and Norad.
ReplyDeleteEmjay