The construction of Interstate 90, while it boosted the tourism industry and economic growth, was designed for the efficient moving of military equipment and personnel (Heefner 181). The introduction of the interstate system in South Dakota led to the construction of 150 Minutemen Missle silos placing South Dakota as a crucial and silent cold war player (Heefner 182). This is representative of the Cold War economy and what Eisenhower called the “Military Industrial Complex”. Eisenhower warned against the relationship between the defense industry and the military as he believed excess spending and the power of the alliance could lead to an unchecked defense industry that threatens democracy (Wikipedia). These Minuteman missiles created new jobs in Western SD, a place with little economic opportunity, and these construction projects boosted the defense industry and its connection to the military (Heefner 186). Despite this, it was a way to cut excess spending in the military. The Minuteman missiles were cheaper than other ICBMs created as they required less staff and cheaper maintenance (Heefner 185). The missiles were placed in sites that prioritized strategic efficacy (Heefner 187). The national security state placed the needs of National defense above landowners and residents of South Dakota.
I think preserving a site such as the Minuteman Silos is essential for United States heritage. Air Force and NPS personnel worked together to preserve the Minuteman Silo site. The creation of Minuteman Missle National Historic Site was the creation of the first NPS site interpreting the Cold War (Heefner 195). The purpose of the site is to show the history of the Cold War, its arms race, and the development of ICBMs. Additionally, the site’s goal is to interpret the Minuteman II system and its role in preserving peace and the broader Cold War context (Heefner 196). I believe it is important for us as a country to remember these sites and places of importance. Preserving and telling the story of the Minuteman Missile silos is so important as the people who worked there were invisible players in the Cold War. However, Heefner (199) pointed out that the story NPS tells at the site is one of a national story, instead of individual stories and the sharing of multiple perspectives. The article was written in 2007, and I wonder if the interpretation at the site has changed since then. I think including multiple perspectives, such as landowners who were forced to give up tracts of farmland, citizens’ opinions of the silos in the area, individuals who built/worked/maintained the missile,s and more to go along with the national story will add depth to the broader context of the Cold War and help connect the visitors to the reality of the Cold War. The invisibility and secrecy that surrounded the site of these missiles at the time of use makes it all the more important to share the story of them now.
As Heefner said in the article, “Perhaps for a war short on medals and battles, historic preservation and commemoration become the lone markers for the people who served” (Heefner 198).
Will Wright 
You mention Heefner’s article in referencing the savings the Minutemen Missiles created for the Air Force. Considering how much money our government has put towards the military, especially during the Cold War, it’s ironic to learn that they did care about cutting costs when they could. With that bar chart in mind from class, in which the US spent way more than a bunch of other countries combined, I wonder what the total spending would have looked like if they weren’t “budgeting.” I agree that it is important to maintain the Delta-9 missile site to preserve history and I like that you point out the problem that the narrative remembered at the historical site is the national one, rather than local. As someone who grew up in SD, I felt kind of ridiculous learning for the first time through this article that the Cold War reached SD.
LikeLike