Heefner’s article on the Minutemen Silo Memorial and the lasting impact of Cold-War economics on the Great Plains area illuminates a part of domestic history often overlooked. While it’s even more surprising that other parts of the country also have missile silo museums, there’s something special about the one just off I-90 that seems different than the others. Rather than being out in the middle of the desert, the silos and missiles in the Midwest were placed here because of the low population of the entire area, rather than placed because of the low population of that isolated area, if that makes sense. With this in mind, it’s important to know the reach of the silos located in the Midwest.
From Montana to Colorado and Missouri, some 150 silos were scattered around the middle of the country, with most centered around Montana and the Dakotas. Day’s book Nuclear Heartland states the Midwest would function as a “sponge” that “soaks up” the blast of whatever countermeasures would be launched at these silos (Heefner 185), which personally strikes me as an odd statement to make about a part of the country, but that might just be the local perspective talking. It surprised me that there weren’t many protests concerning the missiles, but that may be a result of the local culture. Most of the time, people in this state tend to put our heads down when it comes to orders from the top brass of the nation.
Eisenhower’s military-industrial complex is shown in full force through the strategic deployment of Minutemen missiles and personnel throughout South Dakota due to how well the state can be crossed by one or two roads, the relative emptiness of most of the state, and the constructed bases, it makes sense why South Dakota was a logical and quick-adopting area for silos to go up. The idea to place missiles across the Plains both gave a more logical national-level reason to construct Interstate roads through the Dakotas and ensured a safe counter-measure for any attacks that would come to America. The reason I believe there was a silo preserved, however, is a little more practical. We need a memory of what was to attempt to ensure it doesn’t happen again. History should be studied and learned from, and a great way to ensure future generations can do so is through memorials and museums.
Will Wright 
Great post!
I think you did a great job outlining the fundamentals of Heefners article and picking out some important pieces. I am also a local, but did not find it surprising at all that the midwest was referred to as a “sponge” to absorb the effects of an attack or counterattack from the Soviet Union. I do find it surprising however, as you mentioned, that there was little protest from many South Dakotans themselves. Besides the initial backlash because of the federal government buying their land and invoking eminent domain, the article stated that South Dakotans put up relatively few fights in comparison to other states. I wonder if this has to do with, as you mentioned, our local culture?
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