Section_J_-_Att_No__005_Nike_Site_Bulletin.pdf

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Marin Headlands

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Nike Missile Site SF-88 Welcome to Nike Missile Site SF-88. During the tense years of the Cold War, from 1953 to

1979, the US Army built and operated close to 300 Nike missile sites. These sites were the last line of defense against potential attack from Soviet bombers. Although we are not currently offering interpretive tours, you are welcome to conduct a self-guided tour by following the numbered map below and reading the accompanying descriptions.

Please wear a mask and stay six feet apart from others not in your party.

Sentry Post Launch Control Trailer Missile Assembly & Test Building

The sentry building was manned 24/7 to check all those attempting to enter.

Extreme precaution underscored operations at this nuclear missile site.

One of four such locations within the site that controlled missile launch. No one person could ever fire a missile; at least three of the launch areas would have to activate the firing process.

In this building, all of the non-explosive parts of the missile were assembled and tested. It was constructed in 1962 to accommodate the larger and newer Nike Hercules missile, as opposed to the smaller Ajax missile.

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Nike Site SF-88

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Marin Headlands

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Alison Taggart Barone NPS

Four diesel generators were kept ready in case of a power outage. Any time the base went on alert, the generators were started to ensure a constant flow of power. Today, the generator building has been converted to a Welcome Center with relics and photographs from the era.

Past the fence, missiles would be staged during practice to defend against an attack that ultimately never came. The stairs led to the underground magazine, where six Nike Hercules missiles were stored (pictured above).

Each Nike site had a group of twelve to fifteen Military Police (MPs) that protected the site with their guard dogs (pictured). Each dog had its own handler. Dogs were trained on an obstacle course that is currently being restored.

Generator Building

Assembly and Warheading Building

Control Area6

Nike Ajax 1953

Launcher Area and Underground Magazine

Sentry Booth

Kennel Area

On display is a T-shaped radar used to locate targets and a round radar used to guide the missiles. The two trailers contained the radar and computer equipment.

This older Nike model was liquid-propelled and fueled on the concrete pad on the side of this building with highly dangerous chemicals. This was the only time soldiers wore special equipment (pictured) while working at the site.

Since the larger and newer Nike Hercules was solid-fueled, the dangerous fueling step was eliminated. These nuclear missiles were fit with warheads and engines inside of this building.

Here, military police controlled the gates to this highly restricted area. Nike soldiers were expected to always travel in pairs with someone of their equal rank.

Nike Hercules 1958

Pictured:

This Cold War mascot taught children how to duck and cover in event of nuclear attack.

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Nike Missile Site SF-88