During the Cold War, South Dakota became home to 150 Minuteman missiles. These missiles were kept in underground silos throughout the state. The missiles that the US was creating played a big role in intimidating the USSR. The construction of these missile sites required large amounts of federal funding, which provided economic benefits to the surrounding areas. This benefitted many people in South Dakota in a variety of ways. Many jobs were created to build and maintain the silos, such as technicians or maintenance workers. Also, local businesses were benefited by the increase of traffic. Towns near the missile sites saw an increase in economic activity, as workers and people in the military spent money on housing, food, and other necessities. Sometimes the government would need to build a missile silo on land belonging to farmers or ranchers, and when this happened the government would pay the farmers and ranchers. These projects did a lot to help local economies. However, they also showed how military spending on projects took such high priority in America during the Cold War.
While these projects brought financial benefits, they also created a sense of unease. Ultimately, the community never had much of a say on the government coming in and placing missiles wherever they liked. One on one hand, this did help many people in rural South Dakota to feel like they were personally helping to make a difference in the Cold War. However, now having these missiles so close by, people lived with the knowledge that their communities could become targets in the event of a nuclear war. The secrecy and high security surrounding these sites added to the tension. At the same time, the Minuteman missile program was a clear example of how national defense policies influenced the economy and local life. Eisenhower had warned that the growing dependence on military projects could lead to an imbalance, where the needs of the defense industry controlled the economic and political decisions. The missile silos in South Dakota were an example of this warning, as they showed how Cold War policies shaped not only national security but also everyday life in small American communities.
One of the missile silos in South Dakota has been preserved as a national historic site, managed by the National Park Service. I think it is a good thing that one of these silos was preserved because it is such a unique creation that could very easily be forgotten about in American history. This missile site reminds us of the dangers of the Cold War and the role that nuclear weapons played in it. Preserving the silo allows future generations to learn about the arms race, the strategies used to stop war from happening, and the way these events impacted local communities. This missile site offers a view of one of the actions the military took that could also be viewed as not considering some of the negative impacts it would have on the people nearby. This is an important thing to remember when visiting this site so that we can continue to consider how present we want the military in our day to day lives.
Will Wright 