missile silo locations washington state missile silo locations washington state

Despite its abandonment, the battery remains in great condition. The control facility is now an Army Reserve center in the Nike buildings. Also, Douglas Aircraft was selected to design the missile, the booster, and launch equipment. In 1900 the population reached 300 residents with numerous stores, saloons, dance halls, and hotels supporting the population. Simply known as the Cement Ship this moored vessel sits on the shore in Dupont Washington, but little is known about its history. In 1900 the sawmill closed down leaving many unemployed. Water seepage proved to be a challenge at these northwestern locations. 1 of 7. When KUOW presented those reports to Horton, a spokesman responded that they couldnt confirm or deny the presence of nukes at any time. Operational from 1955 to December 1958. After discovering that the Soviet Union was putting nuclear weapons in Cuba, President John Kennedy wanted them gone. It had a nuclear warhead so could destroy entire formations. Awesome abandoned bunkers for sale rollinghillsmissilesilo.com 03 March 2023. Boeing was Washingtons largest recipient of federal contracts over the last year, receiving nearly $6 billion more than four times the amount of the next-largest recipient. Nike Site S-13/14 is one of over 100 different missile defense bases located across the country. But the Soviets refused they already had American nukes in their own backyard, and wanted to help Cuba deter further U.S. aggression. All missiles in the silos are currently Minuteman III (LGM-30G). The other is the main silo where the missile and fuel was held. Boomer submarines, like those at Bangor, will be replaced between 2027 and 2040 at an estimated cost of over $109 billion, according to a Congressional Research Service report released in October. However, the Cougar Mountain housing units were sold and moved to Powell Avenue in Renton, renovated for affordable housing. Former barracks, headquarters, and mess hall buildings are well maintained and in school use. Courtesy of US Navy/Lt. The Air Force's goal in launching the Titan program was twofold: one, to serve as a backup should Atlas fail; and two, to develop a large, two-stage missile with a longer range . The federal government does not have exclusive criminal jurisdiction over the Titan missile bases in Grant county, nor does it have concurrent jurisdiction, since it has not complied with applicable . The site played a key role in the Manhattan Project and was home to the worlds firstfull-scaleplutoniumproductionreactor. Decommissioned missile bases from the Cold War dot the countryside, and where they once held ICBMs now hold everything . This is very basic science associated with what happens to matter when its compressed under very high pressures, said Christopher Keane, the universitys vice president for research. h/t "The Titan 1 missile system was kind of. Dive into a Titan Nuclear Missile Silo. The new owner is a Washington, D.C.-based company named Diversified Upstate . The site was decommissioned in 1974 along with all other Nike sites due to improvements in other air defense technology. The Cloverland Garage is one of the more notable buildings still standing right in the center of town. The F-45 control complex was located on Fancher Road and today is private property. The Hanford site, seen from Washington State Route 240. Were sort of forced refugees.. Spokane was home to Fairchild Air Force Base and additional bases. But here's a disclaimer: Don't actually try GOING to any of these locations. The Hercules sites had 12 to 18 missiles. Safety concerns alter the Spokane Tribes lifestyle. We rate ghost towns in Michigan based on their status. Edith Sakura of the 90th Missile Wing Office of Public Affairs wrote in an email. Box 2160 Spokane, WA 99210 Customer service: (509) 747-4422 Newsroom: (509) 459-5400 Both ends of the tunnel can be explored with parking available near the Iron Goat Trail Head. In 1953, even before Nike Ajax became operational, a second improved model B was under development. The Cloverland Hotel is also still standing. No launch facilities are intact. Due to the sensitive nature of these places and the danger they pose, well keep their exact location undisclosed. Over 18 days ending in October, five corporations received contracts worth more than $615 million for work on Trident weaponry. A cut and fill method was used to install the missile silos and launcher control facilities. Dr. Robin Narruhn, a nursing professional and Seattle University professor, said the fallout still afflicts Marshallese people with trauma, high cancer rates, early mortality, and birth anomalies. Eastern washington's missile silos are a cold war reminder. Garza said these illnesses stemmed from his 33-year career at Hanford, where he was exposed to high levels of mercury and other toxins. Welcome to my exploring Washington State series, going to be making vlog style video of me checking out different places in Washington State. There do remain some active missile silos, in Montana, North Dakota, and at Warren Air Force Base, which is in both Colorado and Wyoming. If you go, be sure to time your trip with low tide so you can get as close as possible to the ship. Because tritium decays relatively quickly, it must be regularly replenished. I saw the complete unbearably miserable destruction.. Even today, the Marshall Islands is among the worlds most radioactive places. Around one-third of the Marshallese population now resides in the US. The nuke-armed USS Henry M. Jackson at Puget Sound. One of the largest buildings in town Hotel Tonasket burned to the ground in 1938. The town sprung up sometime around the early 1900s and by 1908 nearly 250 residents called Lester home. Its a tremendous technical achievement.. Everything was great until the mines slowed down. The water temperature was a pretty consistent 55 degrees. Most of the bases involved were located in the central states, however, nine Atlas E sites were constructed in Washington State and twelve Atlas F sites were constructed in New . The museum opened in 1986 and is operated by the Arizona Aerospace Foundation. The tunnel was abandoned in 1929 for a newer and longer tunnel which you can still see running nearby today. Titan uhhhnick. Trident missile upgrades are also underway. Most Nike Ajax sites not converted closed. Missile silos. The radars and administrative facilities were at the control facility. Dives. The Baker explosion, one of many nuclear bombs the US detonated at the Marshall Islands. This site defended the nations capitol starting on May 30, 1954. Here is a video I made of our hike in and dive into the silos. Its a great experience for novice explorers and is more of a casual location to adventure to. Next door to the Bangor base is a nonprofit that advocates for the abolition of nukes, Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action. This would be the first supersonic missile. . SPOKANE Back in 1961 the U.S. Air Force, without any attempt at secrecy or stealth, hauled nine long-range ballistic missiles by truck . Rumors claim that some patients were even subject to experience under MK Ultra. S-13 and S-14 Redmond. The complex stood vacant until 1969. After sitting empty for a number of years, the former Washington missiles bases have been converted into parks, military camps, and to private ownership. A majority of 1,600 former or current Hanford workers, surveyed for a Department of Commerce report released in June, said they were exposed to toxins. Can you now publish the GPS coordinates. The Hanford nuclear research and weapons complex received four Nike batteries in defense. In 2009, the State Historical Society of North Dakota opened Oscar-Zero for tourists, along with the topside of a Minuteman silo two miles east of town called November-33. The property includes 16 buildings, 3 160' tall missile silos . Jon Floyd August 25, 2022. Similar facilities can be used for anti-ballistic missiles . Below are 15 of my favorite abandoned places across the islands of Hawaii! Also, the launch area on Sprague Road went into private ownership at that time. 40 years of untamed wilderness and weather have left their mark on this old base. Initially, Horton, Fairchilds historian, told KUOW that all nuclear weapons were definitively removed from the base in 1991, suggesting the bunker didnt have nukes at the time. For the Seattle defenses this function was conducted in a heavily fortified building at Fort Lawton. With its establishment plans went forward to install Nike missile defenses at important target areas. If youve never seen a Nike missile base, this is a great example of one left abandoned. Ian Frazier, Great Plains, 1989. Nine Titan I silos split between three sites (3 x 3) at Odessa, Warden, and Quincy would be built . The bridge and all of its glory is still intact, but its future is unclear. ", Moreover, as other commenters noted, the sites are already visited by foreign militaries. Forgotten Heroes Memorial. Titan II. Looking straight across the silo. Among those top contractors in 2020 was Boeing, the aerospace giant founded in Seattle. The first successful Nike missile test took place on November 15, 1951. Earlier this week, NPR ran a short series I did on America's land . Below are 17 of my favorite abandoned places throughout the state. ". The first Nike Hercules sites became operation in June 1958. There would be 11 launch locations with supporting radar sites and an area missile control center at Fort Lawton. The local cemetery has a number of tombs dating back to the early 1900s. Be sure to bring good hiking boots as the trail can get steep in some areas. . Multiple workers also wrote that they dont trust Hanfords record-keeping. Tell your friends about this dive site on: Facebook Twitter. Answer (1 of 19): Used to be in the middle of the countrywhere they were safer from sneak attacks. Nuclear Missile Silos: Inside Upstate New York's Hottest New Real Estate Trend Would-be home buyers with enough disposal income can now purchase subterranean, luxury dream homes. Operational from January 1957 to March 1966. When the number of batteries was reduced, a smaller personnel center, a BIRDIE (Battery Integrated Radar Display Equipment) center accomplished the target monitoring and assignment of targets. Each Washington Nike installation had three separate sites. People who think it is okay to use that kind of weapon during war, I want them to rethink their position, he said. One of the most popular stories is that a boy tied his bike to the tree before being sent off to war. It's time for your real estate portfolio to go ballistic! No documents on Project 4.1 were public until 1993, and many remain secret. Courtesy UW Special Collections (86.5.2118.1), The Free Encyclopedia of Washington State History. The town flourished reaching a population of about 400. The town struggled throughout the Great Depression and suffered even more once the railroad closed in 1931. It almost doesnt seem real until you see it yourself. The main silo is 180ft tall from the base to the blast doors. Larson AFB. Heres how our system works: Abandoned: Is, Read More 12 Ghost Towns In North Carolina [MAP]Continue, Hunting for abandoned places in Hawaii? Fort Casey was part of a trifecta of forts that formed the Triangle of Fire that strategically protected the entrance of the Puget Sound. All the Nike features have been removed. Add dive. Credit: One rumor is that F. E. Martin haunts the halls of this hospital. When you try to keep things too secret, the people who should know about it don't., The Navy will tell you we havent had an accident with a Trident missile in 40 years, which is in my mind a very poor argument, Milner said. By 1964 funding from donations was enough to sustain the hospital. Titan II Missile Museum Arizona. JORDAN STEAD/SEATTLEPI.COM Abandoned by the U.S. Army and overtaken by nature, a former Nike Site S-13/14 missile site slowly rots into the earth Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in Redmond, Wash. During . He was one of the first people to die inside after being crushed by two railcars. Youre in the right place. for sale. Workers wrote in the survey that local healthcare is biased toward Hanford management. We rate ghost towns in North Carolina based on their status. Washington has been at all levels a cornerstone of the U.S. nuclear enterprise, said Hans Kristensen, director of the Federation of American Scientists Nuclear Information Project. However, today little remains to recall how these impressive Cold War installations defended the region. atlas missile sites. 47.42299, -122.46008Photo Credit: sea turtle flickr.com. F-07 Airway Heights, Spokane. With closure, the sites stood vacant for years, vandalized and deteriorated. Unfortunately, Elberton was hit with a streak of bad luck. He copes with neurological and lung damage, loss of smell, difficulty balancing, and partial vision loss. Around 50,000 people worked there, but most didnt know what they were working on until hours after the Hiroshima attack. Operational from 1956 to December 1961. These are MAJOR nuclear war targets, each one of these silo's will be hit with minimum one warhead with a fairly large yield as part of a Russian counterforce attack. Washington has over a dozen different missile defense sites and ICBM silos dotted across the state. Try searching all Nike Missile Web Sites. The launch site was established in Redmond, Washington, in 1957 as the last line of defense against the Soviet . Nike missiles protected this Strategic Air Command (SAC) base, named to honor Bellingham native General Muir S. Fairchild (1894-1950). The hospital is truly a unique place to explore with many details still left behind despite natures attempt at taking the building back. Spokane, Wa 99201 Mailing Address P.O. 101 - Mar 13 1962. Finally the Missile Tracking Radar guided the missile to its target. When the war ended, many of these ships were used to create artificial reefs and break walls. Expect steep drops in the housing areas and rusted flooring from years of moisture. While the hospital had a relatively solid reputation, patients were subject to horrifying treatments like electroshock therapy, lobotomies, and heavy sedation. he U.S. attacked Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945 with the first nuke ever used in war, killing more than 100,000 people. This research, sponsored by the University of Washington, was cancelled over a decade later after ethical concerns were raised. During the Cold War Washington State had a number of significant military and industrial facilities to be defended. Today we explor. The missile fields in Yumen and Hami, plus an existing base in Inner Mongolia, bring China's silo-based sites to roughly 250, while the country also operates around 100 road-mobile ICBM launchers . This research, funded by the National Nuclear Security Administration, has contributed to certification of the nuclear stockpile components over 25 years without nuclear testing, Keane said. It almost felt cursed. Close. Homes without, Read More Cheshire Ohio The Cursed Ohio Ghost Town That Was Stolen TwiceContinue, Hunting for abandoned places in Wisconsin? Below are 20 of my favorite abandoned places across the state! Titan Looking up at the silo doors. Kaitlin Holmes, Fairchild spokesperson. But thats what creates the stability.. This year, a University of Washington study found that data doesnt support a pervasive pattern of occupational disease for workers at one of Hanfords most toxic areas. Rachel Williams, public affairs officer, calls this a special trust and responsibility mission that emphasizes safety. Attorney General John J. O'Connell. Today there are a few brick buildings still standing and some abandoned vehicles in the woods. Atlas A; Atlas B; . Click or scroll for more. At all six missile fields, local activists volunteered to drive the countryside and record driving directions to all locations, while maintaining legal distances from all facilities. The Department of Energy has hidden the truth in medical records, said one respondent. In June 1958 S-13 and 14 became Nike Hercules sites. Deterrence is the theory that the threat of nuclear weapons prevents violence and war including nuclear war. In truth, the location of these weapons is no secret. China is building more than 100 new missile silos in its western desert, analysts say. Features Like many abandoned places in Washington, Molson experienced the boom and bust of all mining towns during the turn of the 19th century. Finally, in 1910 a flood would cause even more destruction. Of course, as coal engines were replaced, the need for this coal faded along with the services of workers in Lester. Then the Soviet Union exploded an atomic bomb and the Korean War started in June 1950. Doctors refuse to say the problem could have been a result of working at Hanford, said one respondent. Researchers from the University of Washington and Hanford were involved. F-37 Cheney. Its launch station was on Graham Road and now within a housing development. This Nike Ajax battery converted to Nike Hercules in June 1960. The battery like many others was tasked with defending the mouth of the Columbia River.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'urbexunderground_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_10',611,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-urbexunderground_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); The battery is completely overgrown covered in a thick layer of moss and vegetation. The town had a roundhouse, general store, saloon, a school, and a post office. The facilities were located in the Seattle-Puget Sound area, Spokane, and the nuclear facility at Hanford. 3. With the introduction of the advanced Nike Hercules missiles with nuclear warheads and longer-range, Nike Ajax missile installations closed. The silos are pitch dark and often waterlogged or flooded from years of neglect. The sad thing is, many of these patients were even mentally ill. Famed author Berkeley Breathed who grew up on the island wrote about the bike in his book Red Ranger Came Calling. Possibly one of the oldest abandoned military bases is located in the middle of the ocean, just west of Key West. Operational from 1956 to November 1960. Not all studies say this, however. extensive interior and exterior cleanup has . They had a solid rocket booster and liquid fuel sustainer. 3 and 5, abbreviated as WNP-3 and WNP-5. IN 1910 an avalanche nickname Tye crashed into the track near the western portal killing 101 people. Residents had access to a blacksmith shop, grain warehouse, church, post office, and flour mill. Because it wasa more effective weapon its installation made it possible to reduce the number of missile sites. By August 1961, one site had pumps removing 175,000 gallons a day. They were built to launch weapons and protect their crews. The 82-foot-tall missile had a speed reaching nearly 16,000 miles per hour. Also some used to be in Arkansasthe Titan or Atlas missilesuntil one blew its fuel loadbecause of a dropped wrenchand threw its payload quite a distance. The launch site near 95th Avenue and 195th Northeast is now private property. Abandoned Places In Alaska 1. Fort Casey is one of the few abandoned places in Washington that is legal to explore. In all these cases, no one was ever convicted. Farther east, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Interstate 5 near Tacoma, is the only U.S. military unit to call for transportation of nuclear weapons by air. While I couldnt find concrete evidence (pun intended), it is very likely these concrete ships were a part of the reserve fleet during World War II. The mill was the lifeblood of the town. The surrounding area has been transformed into a business park but the two cooling towers remain standing and vacant. Most Marshallese dont want to come to the U.S., they would far rather stay, said Narruhn, who is Marshallese on her fathers side. H-52 Rattlesnake Mountain. you could live in the bottom of one of the 155' tall MISSILE SILOS and retrofit the 150 ton SILO DOORS so you could push a button and open them up - 155' above the floor!! Bainbridge Island Parks took over the control and launch areas in 1974. 46.98128, -117.22128Photo Credit: Joe Becker flickr.comif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'urbexunderground_com-netboard-1','ezslot_22',708,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-urbexunderground_com-netboard-1-0'); Elberton was founded in 1886 after the Oregon Railway Co build a rail line through the valley. While some of these sites are privately owned and being lived in, many are in fact abandoned. If youre in the area or not too far away, consider stopping by and checking it out. missile silo for sale. Washington. During the cold war, Nike missile sites would keep a watchful eye over our skies defending key cities and the capital. S-20 Cougar Mountain/Issaquah. Long-range radars supported these defenses. A third location had family housing with ranch-style homes. Looking down the silo from the launcher elevator motor platform. While the unusual property is far from in a turnkey condition, it is brimming with potential. A declassified document on the experiment mentioned previous tests, but no details on those. The land itself had an ominous feeling. The control portion on Bowie Road was sold to a private party in 1967. One school teacher by the name of Gertrude Murphy fought vehemently to revive her town. Operational from 1955 to December 1958. The control areabecame Eagledale Park and the launchbecame Strawberry Hill Park. Radioactive human testing happened in Washington, too. Operational from 1957 to March 1966. Some work will occur in Washington. Known To Locals As The 'Pyramid Of North Dakota" The Stanley R. The launch site was established in redmond, washington, in 1957 as the last line of defense against the soviet. Government reports over the years have found that Hanford concealed information on dangers, underreported toxic leaks, collected bad data, violated safety codes, and fostered an environment of retaliation. Credit: A missile assembly building is now a storage unit. We are the leader in this niche. And it's for sale. 20th Century Castles, LLC has sold 60 properties. In operation from 1957 to March 1964. Additional defenses came with fighters stationed at Geiger Field and Larson Air Force Base. Test firing in 1955 proved it a dramatic improvement over the Nike Ajax. Operational from 1956 to March 1963. The underground missile magazines filled with rain water. Narruhn said the fight for healthcare continues, as structural barriers persist. Latitude: 47.00 deg. Bodie is a very cool place and is among the few abandoned places in Washington that date back to the goldrush area. Guard personnel operated the sites on a 24-hour basis as had the army. Unfortunately, costs ballooned out of control resulting in management changes for the project. There is debate over whether the bomb ended World War II, or only assured Japanese surrender to the U.S. rather than to the Soviets. The control area at 184th Street and Petrovitsky Road now houses King County Sheriffs operations. The U.S. and Soviets faced off for 13 days, with the threat of nuclear war looming large. To prepare the public, the army had Nike missile exhibits at Fort Lawton and Mount Rainier Ordnance Depot (adjacent to Fort Lewis) open houses in May 1954. Three days later it fueled the U.S.s second and last atomic attack on Japan. The Seattle Defense Area received its first Nike Ajax missiles in October 1954. Northern State Hospital was opened in 1912 in response to the overcrowding of Washingtons two other insane asylums. by 1901, the Molson company had withdrawn funding leaving many without work. Lately, many have been closed and the . Continuous supply of tritium is needed to build more nukes, and to maintain the current stockpile. Its a very important component of both the modernization and the future maintenance of the arsenal, Kristensen said. If you want a true ghost town experience, dont pass up on visiting Cloverland. Until then, urban explorers can venture to the bridge for some stunning views. (8L-H), This data is from the book To Defend and Deter: The Legacy of the United States Cold War Missile Program, 30th LRS air terminal: a small shop with large responsibilities - Santa Maria Times (subscription), U.S. Senate OKs amendment requiring annual missile defense tests - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, US missile site in Ravenna to get first public airing - Akron Beacon Journal, Pentagon Launches Test Missile from Vandenberg - NBC 7 San Diego, Law Enforcement Torch Run crosses VAFB - Santa Maria Times (subscription), Iridium's SpaceX launch slowed by Vandenberg bottleneck - SpaceNews, US Air Force test-launches Minuteman missile from Vandenberg Air Force Base - LA Daily News, Missile-Defense Interceptor Flies From Vandenberg Air Force Base - Noozhawk, Seven detained at Vandenberg missile protest - Santa Maria Sun, L-3 Wins Consolidated Air Force Satellite Control Network Contract - Signal Magazine, Final Titan Rocket Launch Ends an Era (10/20/2005), Peacekeeper nuclear missile officially deactivated (9/20/2005), Blue Origin rocket plans detailed (6/13/2005), To Defend and Deter: The Legacy of the United States Cold War Missile Program, Intact, Pacific North Weatern Laboratories Headquarters, Intact, Pacific North Western Laboratories Headquarters, Partially Intact, Cougar Mountain Regional Wildlife Park, Partially Intact, FEMA Agency Region X HQ, Partially Intact, King County Parks and Kent School District, Intact, North Kitsap County School District, Spectrum Alternative Center, Partially Intact, King County Sheriff's Department, Intact, Maple Valley Christian School, South King County Activity Center (shared launch with S-33), Intact, USAR Center, 104th Division, Training, Intact, Maple Valley Christian School, South King Counth Activity Center (shared launch with S-32), Intact, South Kitsap School District and Frank Raab Municipal Park, Intact, WAArNG, scheduled for development, Partially Intact, Vashon Island Equestrian Park and Nike Events Center. Battery OFlyng is one of the more historic abandoned places in Washington with this site dating back to 1904. A more powerful missile, it had a range of 50 miles and altitude of 100,000-feet. Construction was underway at permanent locations. Second, to provide medical care for those harmed. By 1980 only 26 people lived in the town. Here are some maps showing the locations of U.S. Minuteman III ICBM silo's along with coordinates. The Titan II was the largest ICBM ever deployed by the U.S. Air Force. When logging declined in the area, the railroad wasnt needed and was abandoned in the 1970s. Historically there have been multiple unsolved murders in Govan which adds to its allure. in utilizing one of these truly amazing structures as an ultra secure electronic data storage facility or ???. Nike. The U.S. also experimented on Marshallese people without consent. Heavily armed security forces respond to intruders, and very bad things will happen. The cost of irrigation and land left many residents unable to justify purchasing land in the town. In the 1960s, 64 people incarcerated at Walla Wallas state penitentiary were subject to radiation of their testicles. The property is a decommissioned Atlas F missile silo complex on 11 acres near Abilene. Atlas Missile Silo. S-32 Lake Youngs. Of all the abandoned places in Washington, Vance Creek Bridge is one of the most dangerous, so stay safe while exploring. The following is a list of Nike missile sites operated by the United States Army.This article lists sites in the United States, most responsible to Army Air Defense Command; however, the Army also deployed Nike missiles to Europe as part of the NATO alliance, with sites being operated by both American and European military forces. The plutonium made at the Hanford site was eventually used in the Fat Man, and detonated over Nagasaki.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'urbexunderground_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_12',614,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-urbexunderground_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); During the cold war, the Hanford Site ramped up production to expand plutonium processing which helped the United States keep in step with Russia during the arms race. uget Sound is home to around one-third of the nations active nukes. Leonard Eiger, a member of the group, said that deterrence theory is a sham, and any use of nukes would likely provoke all-out nuclear war, causing an unimaginable number of immediate deaths and apocalyptic radioactive fallout., Its only a question of time before either accidentally or intentionally, the weapons are used, Eiger said. Moses Lake, Washington (WA), US. Longitude: -119.21 deg. Washington was a strategic location during the Cold War allowing Minuteman rockets and other nuclear-capable vehicles to reach the Soviet Union in record time. A more powerful missile, it had a range of 50 miles and altitude of 100,000-feet. The base's 150 missiles are . Geoff Brumfiel is a Washington, D.C.-based correspondent with NPR's Science Desk. Just follow the Sequalitchew Creek Canyon trail to the coastline. D= Either, increaed access room in the magazine By 1967 the post office was removed, signifying the final blow to the already dying town. The radar-guided Nike Ajax missiles had a range of 30 miles and an effective altitude capable to known enemy aircraft. When I needed a break from writing the series, I found myself scrolling around Nebraska and Colorado, looking for silos and bunkers. The bridge was the second-highest railroad trestle towering over the forest at 347 feet. The town has embraced its history and has made moves to preserve many of the structures still standing. At most Nike sites the housing became public or was sold to private individuals. Bell Labs and its manufacturing arm, Western Electric, received a contract to develop a guided missile system. Restoring the bridge was deemed too expensive and talks of transforming it into a bungee jumping platform are still ongoing. Before the atomic age, tribal members caught rainbow trout from nearby Blue Creek.