Until March 31, Get Rare Free Access to Florida’s Ex-Missile Defense Site vs. Soviet Warheads

The Story of Nike Missile Site HM-69

During the scary days of the 1960s, when nuclear war seemed likely, the US Army built a missile base right in Florida’s Everglades.

The Nike Missile Site HM-69 helped protect South Florida from possible attacks from Cuba, just 90 miles away from Florida’s coast. Now part of Everglades National Park, this old base has an amazing story to tell.

Here are 11 surprising facts that will make you see this piece of history in a whole new light.

Racing Against Time

The Army built this base in just 180 days during 1964, working through terrible conditions including 95-degree heat and daily three-inch rainstorms. Workers needed hourly mosquito spray as they moved 140,000 cubic yards of limestone rock to build up the swampy ground.

Sixty dump trucks ran non-stop to deliver materials. Meanwhile, special ‘gator patrol’ teams kept dozens of alligators away from the workers, and everything had to be built on platforms to stay above flood waters.

Name With Meaning

The Nike name honors Nike, the Greek goddess of speed and victory, not the shoe company you might think of.

The code ‘HM-69’ had a specific military purpose – ‘H’ pointed to the command center at Homestead Air Force Base 8 miles north, while ‘M’ showed it was in Miami-Dade County.

The ’69’ marked its spot as the southernmost base in the Atlantic defense network, helping military leaders quickly locate it on maps.

Part of a Bigger Plan

HM-69 worked with three sister sites: HM-40 in Key Largo, HM-95 in Miramar, and HM-03 in Miami. Together, they could spot and stop any aircraft from Cuba within 350 seconds of it appearing on radar.

Using special radio networks, all bases stayed in constant contact, with HM-69 serving as the main coordinator due to its central location. The bases were carefully placed so their weapons could reach overlapping areas of sky, ensuring no enemy planes could slip through gaps.

Powerful Protection

Each Nike Hercules missile was 41 feet long and weighed 10,710 pounds when ready to launch. These rockets could carry either a T-45 explosive warhead or a W-31 nuclear warhead that packed the power of 2-40 kilotons.

Flying at 2,707 miles per hour (Mach 3.5) and reaching heights of 150,000 feet, one missile could destroy enemy planes within a 300-foot radius. The base kept 18 missiles ready to launch and stored 24 more in underground bunkers.

Home Sweet Home

The 140 soldiers at HM-69 enjoyed air-conditioned barracks kept at 72 degrees, with senior staff getting private rooms. The kitchen served fresh meals 24 hours a day, while the recreation area included a regulation 25-foot basketball court.

Soldiers could watch first-run movies twice weekly in their own theater, play at three pool tables, or enjoy color TV – a real luxury in 1964. Three 8-hour shifts kept the base running, with required rest periods ensuring everyone stayed alert.

Unexpected Animal Friends

The base’s 18-foot security fence and elevated buildings created a safe space for Everglades wildlife. Florida panthers, which were endangered, made homes under the missile assembly building, while wood storks built 60 nests in the radar towers.

American crocodiles, usually found only near the coast, started breeding in the base’s drainage canals, attracted by warm water from the air conditioners. The soldiers documented over 100 different species living around the facility.

Always Ready

Between March 1964 and June 1979, the base stayed on constant alert but never fired a missile in defense. The teams completed 262 practice drills and earned an impressive 98.7% readiness score in quarterly tests.

Old Soviet documents found in the 1990s revealed that the missile shield influenced how the Soviets planned their strategy in the Caribbean, helping prevent conflict during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Hidden Bunkers

Three concrete underground bunkers, each 60 feet long, stored missiles at a steady 68 degrees Fahrenheit. These storage rooms were strong enough to survive a direct hit from a 2,000-pound bomb.

The Otis Elevator Company’s hydraulic lifts could raise a 15,000-pound armed missile in just 15 seconds, using 200 gallons of hydraulic fluid per lift.

Smart Technology

The AN/MPQ-43 radar system could track 24 planes and guide three missiles at once, spotting fighter jets from 150 miles away. The missile tracking system could hit targets within 10 feet of accuracy at maximum range.

The main radar swept the entire sky every 10 seconds. Running this complex system required 13 specialized technicians during each shift.

Protected Place

On July 27, 2004, HM-69 became a National Historic District, protecting 18 original structures across 6.95 acres. This includes three missile barns, radar towers, and support buildings.

The site still has 85% of its original equipment exactly as it was left in 1979, from control panels to maintenance tools, making it one of America’s best-preserved Cold War military sites.

Visit Today

Between December and April, park rangers lead two-hour tours through the 2,025-square-foot missile assembly building, which still houses an inert training missile and original testing equipment.

Visitors can explore the restored control center with its working radar screens. The site displays authentic military logs and photos, while former missile technicians sometimes visit to share firsthand stories about serving during the Cold War.

This remarkable piece of history shows us what life was like when nuclear war seemed possible at any moment. By preserving it within Everglades National Park, we can learn from our past while protecting nature at the same time.