Nike Missile Battery MS-40, County Road No. 260, Farmington, Dakota County, MN

Significance: The Nike missile system, first developed in the 1950s, was the United States' first and most widely deployed air defense missile system. Nike installations were a critical element in national air defense during the Cold War. While the U.S. military deployed on number of air defense systems during and after the Cold War, Nike was the most assessable to the public because of its numerous installations in close proximity to major metropolitan areas. Nike Battery MS-40, in Farmington Minnesota, is the best-preserved Nike installation in Minnesota. After decommissioning, missiles, fueling and guiding systems were removed but the remaining buildings provide a rich level of material. The Farmington site typifies the Nike system in its technical, operational and architectural elements and is a physical manifestation of American military history and of our nation's involvement in the Cold War.

Survey number: HAER MN-100

Building/structure dates: 1958-1959 Initial Construction

farmington nike missile battery ms nike missile battery ms county road dakota dakota county minnesota andrew baugnet historic american engineering record daniel j hoisington rebecca kumar us army corps of engineers us bureau of mines photo nike missile battery ms 40 ultra high resolution high resolution library of congress

1969 - 1980

Library of Congress

http://www.loc.gov/

No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government; images copied from other sources may be restricted. http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html