Nike Missile Site HM-69 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Nike Missile Site HM-69
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HM-69
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Homestead, Florida |
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| Architect | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000758 |
| Designated NRHP | July 27, 2004 |
The Nike Missile Site HM-69 is a historic place in Florida, United States. It's also known as the Hole in the Donut or Everglades Nike Site. This site used to be a base for powerful Nike-Hercules missiles. You can find it on Long Pine Key Road inside the Everglades National Park. The base had 22 buildings and opened in 1964. It closed in 1979, and then the National Park Service took over.
Contents
A Look Back: The Missile Site's Story
This missile base was built because of an important event called the Cuban Missile Crisis. This crisis happened in 1962 and was a tense time between the United States and Cuba. The HM-69 site was part of a defense system to protect the Miami area. It was one of the last missile defense sites still working in the United States.
Why Was HM-69 Special?
The HM-69 site was the furthest west of several Nike-Hercules missile bases around Miami. These bases in South Florida were special. They used a version of the Nike-Hercules missile designed to stop other missiles. These powerful missiles were meant to protect the country from any missiles that might be launched from Cuba.
Building the Base
From 1962 to 1965, the missile battery was first set up in temporary buildings. These were located just outside the park entrance. The main base, known as Battery A, was finished in 1964. It was built in a part of the park called the "Hole in the Donut." This area used to be a farm.
How the Missile Launch Site Worked
The launch site had three special units, and each unit held four missiles. The missiles were kept above ground because the water level in the Everglades is very high. A special radar unit, called HIPAR, helped track targets. The control center for the missiles was located north of the launch site. Today, the Park Service uses this area as the Daniel Beard Research Center.
Visiting the Historic Site Today
On July 27, 2004, Battery A/HM-69 was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site in the U.S..
What You Can See
The National Park Service offers tours of the site during the winter months. When you visit, you can see some of the original buildings. These include a building where missiles were put together, three missile shelters, and barracks where soldiers lived. There's even a guard dog kennel. You can also see a restored Nike-Hercules missile on display.
See also
In Spanish: Nike Missile Site HM-69 para niños
