Do you remember, or have you heard about the Cuban Missile Crisis? Did you know that Everglades National Park houses one of the best-preserved relics of the Cold War in Florida?
An historic Nike Hercules Missile Site, called Alpha Battery or HM-69, remains virtually the same as it was when official use of the site was terminated in 1979. This missile base was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, completed in 1964 at the height of the Cold War, immediately following the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962. At a time when national security against Soviet attack was America's main priority, the United States Army chose this strategic site within Everglades National Park, located 160 miles from the Cuban coast, to build an anti-aircraft missile site.
We’ve arranged for a tour of the site, to be given by Ranger Leon Howell, on Sunday, April 8th, at 2:00 pm. This exciting and timely tour will last approximately 90 minutes. There’s no charge for the tour, but the park will charge its regular entrance fee. If you'd like to carpool (provide/get a ride) into the park, please be at the Coe Visitors Center by no later than 1:30 pm.
After the tour, some of us will be going to one of the local Mexican restaurants to partake of some yummy “vittles,” and we’d be happy if you would join us!
If you’d like to read about the site and/or the tour, please click on this link:
http://www.floridarambler.com/historic-florida-getaways/nike-missile-base-everglades-national-park/
And here’s a link to a map of the Everglades that shows the missile site: https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/maps.htm
