Everglades Experience Preview – Nike Missile Site HM-69

Come visit Nike Missile Site HM-69 in Everglades National Park! On the Everglades Experience tour see firsthand the military history of South Florida and be transported to the time when America was on the brink all while enjoying the natural beauty of Everglades National Park.

1. Cold War Era: Nike Missile Site HM-69 was established during the height Cold War period as part of a nationwide defense strategy against potential Soviet air attacks shortly after the Bay of Pigs.
2. Strategic Location: Strategically positioned within Everglades National Park to defend important assets in South Florida, this battery sought to intercept targets from Cuba before they could reach American soil.
3. Operational Period: The site remained active from 1965 until its deactivation in 1979, marking a significant period in U.S. military history during the height of the Cold War. The area includes 3 missile barns, a missile assembly building, a guard dog kennel, barracks, 2 Nike Hercules missiles, and various support elements.
4. Preserving History: The Nike Missile Site HM-69 was listed on the U.S. Department of the Interior Register of Historic Places on July 27, 2004 as a Historic District.
5. The Nike Missile Site HM-69 Namesake: Unrelated to the shoe, the name “Nike” comes from the Greek goddess of victory and was chosen as the code name for a series of surface-to-air missiles developed by the United States during the Cold War. The prefix “HM” stands for “Hercules Missile,” indicating the missile type of the site was equipped with. The number “69” is the specific designation assigned to this particular Nike missile site.
6. Nike Missile Sites Across the United States: Nike sites are by no means unique to Everglades National Park. During the Cold War, hundreds of Nike missile sites were created across the country and deployed in allied nations. However, South Florida’s geology forced the department of defense to alter the site to the unique environmental conditions. The site consists only of above-ground facilities as opposed to other sites across the country.
7. Cutting Edge Technology: Hercules missiles served as point defense system primally designed to intercept and destroy high-altitude bombers but later updated to intercept missiles. Exhibits within the park showcase the advanced technological capabilities and strategic importance of missile defense systems.
8. It takes an Army: Approximately 140 soldiers staffed the 3 above-ground missile barns of HM69. The personnel of HM69, along with the members of other South Florida units, received the Army Meritorious Unit Commendation from John F. Kenedy which was one of the few times that it was awarded for deterrence rather than engagement with the enemy.
9. Buried in a burrow: A secret uncovered after the decommissioning, an old Volkswagen was found submerged in a burrow pond nearby the Nike Site and was later fished out. Photos of this vehicle can be seen at the Nike site in Everglades National Park.
10. Sharing the legacy: Today, the Nike Missile Site HM-69 is preserved within Everglades National Park and celebrated as a part of South Florida’s historic heritage. The site is not open to the public from May to October however Everglades Institute continues to offer guided tour of the site year-round educating visitors about its historical significance and the broader context of Cold War history in the United States.