The Badlands of South Dakota

We spent two days exploring the Badlands, about 80 miles from home. There are two significant national sites in the Badlands, a National Historic Site and a National Park.

 

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

Under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) signed in 1991 the US and USSR began to reduce their stockpiles of nuclear arms. There were many Minuteman II missile sites across South Dakota. Out of the 450 sites, one Launch Control Facility and one Launch Facility (Silo) were preserved as historic sites. The Minuteman III Missiles are still active in Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota.

The newly built Visitor Center along I-90 is four miles
from the Launch Control Facility.

Delta-01 Launch Control Facility looks pretty innocent
from the road.  Only six visitors are allowed on 
each tour due to space constraints.

Inside the Launch Facility, three stories underground.
This is where two missileries sat at their stations 24/7
for three decades. 

Delta-09 Launch Facility (Silo)
is about 10 miles from Delta-01.

Minuteman II Missile

Badlands National Park

The 30 mile Badlands Loop Road has 14 significant scenic overlooks. We stopped at them all.

Badlands NP is more than 240,000 acres.

The camera cannot do it justice.



Yellow Mounds Overlook



Some of the turnouts had short hikes.
This one was called the Fossil Trail.

This trail was called the Door Trail

Wall Drug Store

Of course, no trip to the Badlands is compete without a stop at Wall Drug Store in Wall, SD.

We each had a piece of homemade pie
and a 5 cent cup of coffee.