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4.5
542 votes

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

24545 Cottonwood Rd, Philip, South Dakota 57567 USA

Free
Free to Visit
Closed Now
Opens Thu 8a
  • Independent
  • Credit Cards
    Accepted
  • Wheelchair
    Accessible
  • Public
    Restrooms
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“nuclear missile launch control center!”

Minuteman Missile NHS protects two Cold War-era intercontinental ballistic missile sites- Delta-01 & Delta-09.

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Reviewed by
lcollins91

  • 1 Review
  • 9 Helpful
August 20, 2017
Rated 5.0

They have changed their tour ticket system!! Instead of first come first serve, they now require a reservation either online at https://www.blackhillsvacations.com/things-to-do/national-state-parks/supplier/698193-Minuteman-Missile-National-Historic-Site or by phone. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance, and can be made up to 90 days ahead of time.

We only got to go to the museum in the visitor center (which was really well designed and very cool to see) and to the Delta-09 site where there was luckily a ranger who had worked on the Minuteman missiles for several years to talk about them and answer questions.

9 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Susan Horstman

  • 6 Reviews
  • 9 Helpful
June 28, 2020
Rated

Good information but if you are headed EAST you need to stop at the actual missile silo 15 miles West of this point first so you don't have to double back.

8 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
batmancop

  • 26 Reviews
  • 21 Helpful
August 18, 2017
Rated 5.0

Cool. We purchased tickets for the launch center tour (Delta 1) online so we didn't miss out. The tour was for 2:00 in the afternoon, so we went to the visitors center in the morning, then drove to the Delta 9 site to see the missile still in the silo (Delta 9 closes at 3:00), then on to Wall Drug for lunch. That was the perfect amount of time to make it back to D-1 for the tour.

Learned so much about the procedures that were in place during the Cold War to make sure we didn't have a nuclear accident.

3 people found this review helpful
  • 3 Reviews
  • 3 Helpful
July 28, 2014
Rated

Tickets went fast. It was interesting but disappointed not to get tickets we got there at 9:45 and they were gone.

2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
brandangelak

  • 13 Reviews
  • 5 Helpful
August 03, 2016
Rated

The little museum was interesting, but needed some love. We didn't do the tour of the launch control, but did drive out to the delta-09 silo and did the audio tour. The tour was fine, but not that interesting and it took a while to listen to all of it. On a 95-degree day, the kids lost interest pretty fast!

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
dandbcat

  • 1 Review
  • 1 Helpful
September 05, 2015
Rated 5.0

Great tour, if you get there early enough to get tickets. The visitors center is no longer in a trailer by the Conoco, but rather in a new facility just north of I-90, off exit 131.
There are 3 locations associated with this historical "attraction". The first is the visitor center, mentioned above. Next, is the Delta-01 launch control facility where the guided tour is actually given. That facility is located off of I-90 exit 127. After that, or if you don't get a chance to score tour tickets, you could still go to the Delta-09 missile silo location for a self guided, or cell phone guided tour off of I-90 exit 116. It's pretty cool seeing an actual missile in its silo if your into that sort of thing. The multi-ton concrete and steel cover is partially pulled back and the silo is covered by glass.
Like everyone else, I recommend getting there early to obtain tickets. We wanted to do all three locations without delay so we were the first ones there at 7am. The next group was in the parking lot at about 7:20. We got our tickets when they opened at 8:00 am and the first tour was at 8:30 at the Delta-01 location. Since our guide was actually stationed in the launch control facility when it was active, we got thorough, first hand information and anecdotes making this one of the best stops on our trip. Though our kids were really tired from getting up that early, even they felt it was well worth it.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Tatiana Danger

  • Road Warrior
  • 1,169 Reviews
  • 910 Helpful
August 31, 2014
Rated 4.0

Great tour. The visitor center is small but very informative. There's also gas right next to it. I'd recommend taking the paid guided tour through the control center. It really is the best way to experience the site. The tours are by appointment, so prepare to allow a bit of extra time.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Paul

  • 11 Reviews
  • 5 Helpful
August 31, 2014
Rated 5.0

Awesome tour! This is a must if you have any interest in the Cold War. The tour is free, but they have limited tickets, and the groups sizes are limited to about 5 people. Get there early, they open at 8:00 AM. Also be sure to check out the self guided tour of the actual missile site, it's very, very cool!

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
dwagner818

  • 18 Reviews
  • 24 Helpful
July 30, 2014
Rated 3.0

Tour was interesting, worth the visit. Get to visitor center here early. I was at 7:30 AM and there was already a good 35 people in line. Drive to location. And drive to missile site (no ticket needed for that) can use phone for audio tour.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
cvaughn

  • 7 Reviews
  • 12 Helpful
July 22, 2014
Rated 4.0

Pretty interesting. Go early for tickets!

1 person found this review helpful

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Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

24545 Cottonwood Rd
Philip, South Dakota
57567 USA
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Closed Now
  • Tue - Sat: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

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