ABB

During the Cold War, South Dakota’s western plains were selected to be the incubator for 150 Minuteman missiles, which were built to be three thousand times more powerful than “Little Boy,”the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. It was chosen due to its strategic geography and the pre-existing Ellsworth Air Force Base, which made the construction of the missiles easier. This decision led to the economic growth of the city. For instance, during the late 1960s, Interstate 90 was built, which was designed to help the military with their mission. Ironically, it has attracted tourists to South Dakota’s famous landmarks. “The Minuteman Promises Economic Lift” (the Rapid City Daily Journal), as a lot of jobs were created for local residents and $60 million worth of construction contracts were signed.

Many farmers felt ignored and frustrated when their requests were dismissed. For example, they demanded that the silos should be placed in less valuable sites, but the federal government believed that those exact locations were the best service for their needs. The U.S. developed newer missile (Minuteman III) systems in other departments, and South Dakota’s site was eventually abandoned. Eventually, the START I Treaty required removing Minuteman II missiles. Landowners hoped they could directly buy back their land but again, they could not because federal laws required offering the land to government agencies first.

Environmental concerns were raised by local citizens that eventually developed into protests, after the federal government decided to destroy the missile silos using TNT explosions. Ranchers strongly disagreed because they believed that the blasts could damage underground water and make the soil unusable for farming.

I believe that a silo was preserved in the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site (MIMI), a national historic site with the National Park Service, as a way of showcasing a physical picture of the arms race during the Cold War. Additionally, to highlight the way the U.S. efforts in preserving the world’ s peace throughout history. “…the Minuteman was the first solidf fuel ICBM—making its storage, launch, and maintenance safer and cheaper than its Titan and Atlas predecessors…” (Gretchen Heefner). Hence, it would be a great idea to keep a fingerprint of the technological advancements that were made during that era. Finally, this site aims to bring attention to the role of  South Dakota’s in the Cold War and to recognize its people because it is a big burden for citizens who live nearby to just accept it, even though the missiles were mostly buried underground in silos. Their danger is still existent and real.