Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site

During the Cold War, the U.S. military built sites across the northern Plains housing nuclear missiles ready to launch at a moment’s notice. In 1965, Grand Forks Air Force Base built the 321st Missile Wing including 150 missiles in underground silos (Launch Facilities) and 15 control centers (Missile Alert Facilities). This site preserves the Oscar-Zero Missile Alert Facility and the November-33 Launch Facility. It’s one of the only missile sites of its kind open to the public.

Above ground at Oscar-Zero, tour rooms with original furnishings. Take an elevator 50 feet below ground to the Launch Control Center and see where crews monitored missiles and awaited orders 365 days a year. The missile at November-33 was removed and the silo was sealed as part of the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. Learn about this area on interpretive panels.

MUST SEE & DO

• Ride an elevator 50 feet below ground to the Launch Control Center.
• Stand atop the November-33 missile silo door.
• See the buttons and keys used to launch a missile.
• Walk the grounds and locate the communication technology.