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Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, Philip, SD

Photo: Jud McCranie, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffFree

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

24545 Cottonwood Road · Philip, SD

Why you should go…

This National Park Service site preserves pieces of a Minuteman II missile field that once held 150 missiles across southwestern South Dakota. It is spread over three stops along Interstate 90: a visitor center at exit 131, the Delta-01 launch control facility near exit 127 and the Delta-09 silo at exit 116. At Delta-09 you look down through a glass enclosure at an unarmed missile in its 80-foot launch tube. Going underground at Delta-01 requires a ranger tour reserved in advance.

  • #cold war history
  • #missile silo
  • #national historic site
  • #guided tour

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

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