Reviews of Minuteman Missile Visitors Center (Tourist Attraction)

24545 CottonWood Rd, Philip, SD 57567, United States

Average Rating:

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You will be able to see the information of real people like you who bought the products of Minuteman Missile Visitors Center (Tourist Attraction) near to the state of South Dakota.

Nowadays the business gets a score of 4.5 out of 5 and that rating has been based on 706 reviews.

You may have noticed that it reaches an reviews average is virtually the best one, and it's based on a very large number of opinions, so we can be quite sure that the evaluation is very accurate. If people have bothered to evaluate when they are happy, it works.

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This Tourist Attraction corresponds to the category of Visitor center.

Where is Minuteman Missile Visitors Center?

REVIEWS OF Minuteman Missile Visitors Center IN South Dakota

Mike Davies

Great place, lot of information. If you want to visit the missile center be sure to make reservations they will not do same day.

Taylor Hagerdorn

This was pretty incredible to experience firsthand. We missed the guided tours at the Delta-01 Facility (book waaaaaay ahead to avoid our mistake) but were very pleased with this museum. Most likely, we would have neglected to pour over it if we had a tour time to hold. The museum used modern techniques and designs to provide the audience with an understanding, however small, of what life would have been like for staff at these nuclear missile launch and work sites in the midst of the Cold War. The anxiety of the decades-long threat becomes palpable as you 'descend' into the base. Info graphs, interactives, and visuals are geared toward both adults and children, which makes it a unique space for all to examine this facet of the conflict. It's engaging, enlightening, and also information to its core. While it is aesthetically appealing and creative, it doesn't shy away from data, and uses it very well. I gained a deeper appreciation for the tension that pervaded much of American and Soviet culture for decades.

Willy's Performance Cycle Center, Since 1969

This is a very nice site to visit and review our nations history. Excellent displays that cause you to recall youth and the history of the atomic race. Very pleasant employees and atmosphere. We really enjoyed our visit and well worth the stop.

Clayton C

Great set up for a small museum focused on the cold war arms race. Nice displays and a short documentary. Very educational for the kids on a topic I pray they never have to live through again.

Ali Bassler

So much to learn and set up in a very comfortable accessible way! Thank you and the new pamphlets look great!!!

Paula Brooks

A must see! Amazing!!

Tim Velazquez

Great little free Museum. I highly recommend it!

Viperflt viperflt

The exhibits at the visitor center brought history to life! The nuclear weapons history and how these nuclear capable rockets defended our nation during the most tense moments. Incredible how close we came to nuclear war on several occasions. The museum did an excellent job of presenting the information and well worth the time to walk through slowly. The staff was very knowledgeable and had great stories to tell.

John Grove

This is a interesting relic of the cold war. The park service has done an excellent job with the new visitor center. There is a self guided tour and the Rangers are very knowledgeable about the site and it's history. I'm gland to see this part of history in such good hands.

Daniel McHugh

Bring your children. It is a good education on our past and present nuclear threat. Ranger on staff was a past Air Force missile personnel. Very knowledgeable.

Jeff Pedersen

A must see! Very informative! An important part of world history that needed to be shared. The movie is brilliantly done. The best historical park service movie I have seen. It provided a great family discussion.

Bryce Caster

One of the most interesting tours I've ever been on. You can tour a very real Cold War Era underground nuclear missile silo. The actual silo is not at the visitor center, but you have to stop by the visitor center to sign up for the tour. Tours sell out quickly so arrive early in the day.

Bryce Hamblin

This is a great place to see. I learned a lot in the visitors center. The exhibition was very informative. I wish I had time to go see the silos. I have to go back and finish my site seeing tours.

James Anderson

Excellent location. Gets extra bonus mega stars from me for detailing history and being such a well kept VC. Make sure to ask about the other locations and make reservations about the Delta-1 site and drive out to the Delta-9 site as they are so cool.

Jason Winget

Well down, a quick visit. Tours are not at this site. Short video explains the program.

Tim Nichols

Wish I had more time to spend there

Gerald Shepherd

Very interesting stop on our trip lots of stuff to see inside.

Nancy Roberts

Very imformative reminder of how it was during my childhood & teen years. ( I am 68). The grandkids enjoyed it too. Don't miss it!

Coupe DeVille

Good place to visit, small but interesting history.

Dave S

Very cool Cold War history. Take some time and read and look at everything. There is a lot of information that is easily overlooked.

Effie Hunter

If you are interested in history of the Cold War this visitors center is a must see. Leave some time to watch the short movie. My kids enjoyed completing the junior ranger program and learned things we were never taught in school.

Travis Hidlebaugh

Extremely disappointed!! Made reservations 2 months in advance. Flew out there from Decatur, IL, only to find out that they decided to close down the LCF, for the day, for construction. My job in the Air Force was working with these missiles and I was never allowed to go down into the Capsule. This was a very sentimental tour to me, and to have made this trip from so far away, without any notice was crushing! They still have not refunded my money. They claimed to have sent out an email, just 3 days prior to my arrival, which I never received. They couldn't even slide the 2 of us into another tour later in the week. All I got was, " Sorry, you should've gotten the email and the refund and we are booked solid through the end of July." To say that I was let down is an understatement! I love my country, but this was a terrible deal.

Don Jackson

Nicely taking care of introduction program to the nuclear defense systems good movie provided telling stories of both American and Russian near-misses were missiles were almost launched nice gift shop with plenty of trinkets for family and friends the kids overall a great place to visit.

Donna J

Couldnt even get a tour. They said they were booked for over 8 weeks. If you really want to see the site this isn't it! They have some non usa souveniers at high prices! Just not nice!

Shannon Caldwell

Very interesting. Wish we could have seen the whole place but didn't know about need for reservations that are placed before the same day.

Susan Kalina

Very well done visitor center. The film is very moving and educational for any American young or old.

Peter T

We stopped at the site without tickets and were lucky to be left in because of no-shows. Very lucky indeed, because the underground site gave us a feel for the cold war and its threats. Megatons of deadly power on long-distance missiles were controlled from here. Memorable also the inscription, inspired by Domino Pizza: world wide delivery in 30min or your next one is free. Next stop for us was one of the actual sites of missiles, with the missile still standing inside under a transparent roof, like it was ready to be fired. It's not, of course, fuel and warheads have been removed.

Susan Linneman

If you are a fan of military history especially the Cold War, this visitor center is great. Exhibits are interesting and explain the years following WWII and the nuclear threat that these weapons pose.

Lucky Man

Awesome! Don't drive by without seeing this small museum and video. It's free and a great history lesson. Rangers and volunteers are incredibly friendly, insightful, knowledgeable and helpful.

WREN Bradley

A great museum and documentary film. We were so glad we did not miss this stop!

joshua anderson

This is a cool place to take your kids. They can learn about the cold war and the real fear of being annihilated in a nuclear attack. They can learn about the precautions taken and the defense of the country during these trying times. They will learn why SAC's motto was "Peace is Our Profession"

GW C

New visitor center with a good look at what was once underground. Amazing to actually talk with officers who lived and worked in the missile silos. Definitely take the underground tour.

Sara McMillan

The Delta-09 silo is really awesome, and the cell phone tour works quite well. You have to make reservations to visit the control center pretty far in advance so we were unable to do this. The museum was very educational.

thomas kowski

We really enjoyed the "find" after visiting the Badlands NP and the concrete prairie dog! So much to learn and you can't help but have some sense of anxiety knowing the button could be pushed at anytime. The one surprise was that every presidential election winner was listed, except # 44. Barack Obama. He was shown but not referenced either.

Jay Y

Very interesting historical place. Great videos and articles from the cold war. "Duck and Cover!"

G C

It wasn't quite completed inside when I visited...all the posters for the exhibits were hung with duct tape!...lol...when I whined to the ranger about it he said I could be the one to "push the button"..we laughed...check this place out if you're going to Badlands N.P.

John Salmon

We all really liked this place even though we didn't plan on stopping. I was glad to see my kids' take interest in the Cold war and try to figure out what strategies people were implementing to avoid annihilation. The movie was extremely well done and my wife mentioned she was stirred emotionally watching it. That's quite a feat for a visitor center. Nice work.

Vidius HD

Very cool part of history. Seemed like a new exhibit and the displays were very nice. We arrived at closing and were rushed out of the place. Wish we would have been able to spend more time and take the missile silo tour.

Jenny Povolish

Really cool place but you HAVE TO BOOK TOURS MONTHS IN ADVANCE ONLINE

Frank S

Very informative never knew just how close we were to be coming annihilated

Sue Hathaway

My husband and I visited Missile launch site first and it was so interesting to see this place. It's in s field off a dirt road, protected by cows!! This is self guided, there's a number posted to call which gives information on the defense of our country during the cold war. Then we went to the launch control center where my husband loved reading all the information. There's several volunteers ready to answer any questions and a small gift shop.

Brady Olson

If you are interested in history, the Minuteman Missile Visitors Center is fascinating and a hidden gem! The video gives a great overview of the history and the museum has lots of interesting details!

DiAnne Warner

Very educational and interesting! Worth the trip!

Nick Bell

Wow! I never realized how vast our country is in terms of defense. The de-commissioned Silo was eye opening. Today. Now with Supersonic weapons on the horizon these silos are obsolete but so much fun to visit.

Billy Whitt

Small bit really cool. We always make sure to stop at a National park visitor center to stamp our passports. Cool gifts and info about the missile program.

Dave Ullsperger

This is a cool place to visit!! They take you down inside the silo and it's full of information.

Mike and Laine

Great museum exhibit, very thorough and comprehensive. The 30 minute video about the history of the Minuteman missiles is fantastic.

icpeatr

Very nice visitors center. But make sure you schedule a tour of the missle silo ahead of time. You can't sign up the same day and all the tours were booked for over a week out.

Spiritualized Kaos

Very interesting visitors center of the Minuteman missile silo in South Dakota.

Lyle Monson

My wife reserved a tour of the silo control center which is limited to small groups. This is not at the visitors center. It was very interesting to see how the Air Force personnel lived and worked during the cold war. The center was left exactly as it was decommissioned down to the cafeteria, menu, magazines etc...

Christine Bennett

The tour of the underground launch center was excellent. Highly recommend it.

Sean Flood

This small visitor's center and museum had a huge impact. From the living room watching the duck and cover commercials that was the government's kool aid to appease the masses. To actually sitting in a launch chair. Just amazing a must stop if you are in the area.

Doug Cookston

Small but interesting. Well worth the time to visit.

Mickey Strand

Fun stop that my nephew said we had to make and I’m glad we did. Staff was great very informative and friendly.

Kathryn Hashem

The welcome center was very informative and the staff answered all of our random questions....great stop.

Ken Oliver

Cool place to visit with a nice exhibits. They rangers and staff were super nice. Only a pit stop (30-45 minutes). Would have been cool to see and visit an actual silo.

Rocky Lake

Amazing place for the whole family! Little kids to adults we all loved it!

Chuck Campbell

If you are traveling westward then you will be all right because the actual missile silos where the tours are held are one or two exits past this spot. If you are heading east it will require you to backtrack to do the actual tours. The only way to keep own which silo the tours are being held at that day is to stop in here.

Joe Lowery

This is a neat piece of American history that is often overlooked. The site is both informative and engaging - a great place to stop!

kristina elshoff

Wasn't sure what to expect but this was an amazing tribute with many interactive exhibits

Brant Donis

Very knowledgeable staff. Nicely presented. Look forward to touring the command bunker one day, make your plans early to do that.

Danielle Wales

Small but very interactive visitor center. Stopped there as we were passing by, could have spent a lot of time there. Launch facility and missile site a few miles down highway. Great to do after a day at Badlands NP, on your way back to Rapid City

Yaduraj C

Very nice and interactive exhibits for kids. Not the busiest place but the staff is very friendly. Very informative guides and it's cool to see this hidden history. Check it out if you're in the area or visiting Badlands National Park.

Tony C

Small but very interesting especially if you lived through the Cold War. Excellent informative movie.

Tian Zhang

A small museum in it. Spent some time and watch the short movie in it and worth it

Robert Carinci

This is a great piece of history and it is well worth the effort to get here. The Visitors center has a thorough review of the history of the sites nd you can visit an actual site just down the road. The staff is very courteous and helpful and I recommend anyone who is interested in history to stop by.

Hayden Crutchfield

Stopped here by "mistake" on the way to the Badlands visitor center, and forgot all about going there. Amazing find - I suggest everyone stop here. It is a great Center - staff was great. Our guide was a former Colonel in a missile battery, and he was in the film about the Cold War and life inside a bunker - Amazing !!!!! Really took me back to my childhood, and the air raid drills and warnings. All through this Center, it was with wonder and amazement that the world made it thru those times. Come and see. Bring your children, teach them well.

Neal Wagliardo

The vendor the NPS uses to book the silo tours is terrible! I reserved two spots for a silo tour weeks ago. The morning we are supposed to go, I get an email stating they overbooked the tour and were cancelling my reservations. Naturally it's too late to book another tour while we are here. Cancelling tours seems to be a common problem for this vendor. NPS, your visitors deserve better!

Andy R

Very interesting place to visit!

Michael Black

RESERVATIONS???? WHAT?! This place which is in the middle of nowhere should be first-come-first served! We arrived in the middle of July and they said they were booked through AUGUST! What a crock. The visitor's center was ok but it was very hard to get over my disapointment in not being able to go in the control center. I guess I'd better reserve my next pass through here - in 2020 - now. Sheesh.

Richard Hardegger

Excellent 30 min film presentation that tells everything about a time that we were incredibly I'll informed about, despite our anxieties. All free. A very informative and high-quality museum.

Gary Kirkham

Excellent story of the Cold War and the US and USSR nuclear arsenals. If you grew up in the 1950s this place will resonate with you. Just remember to DUCK and COVER as you crawl under your school desk!

Mark Stevens

It’s definitely a National Park Service site to visit while you’re in the Badlands National Park area! The visitor center and information looks small, but there’s a lot of information about the missileers and America’s Cold War past. There’s plenty of parking and the NPS rangers and staff are always helpful to provide any information about this and other locations in the area.

Robin H

This is a great little self-directed museum! I believe guided tours are also available, but that might not be the same. A lot of information on the missiles and how they came to be, hour we came about making them, and such. There are a few short videos through the tour and a 30 minute show that is said to be award-winning. If you're in the area, it's easily worth a stop.

Jeff Schmiemeier

It was ok, not much to see. The actual missile site it miles away.

Mark Hinz

Very sobering and educational Launch control facility tour was great! Mike did a very in-depth tour.

Adam Bentley

The displays are very well done. The new video was well worth the time to learn not only about the past US-Soviet nuclear tensions, but also about the present and future of nuclear arsenals especially in the age of terrorism. Very sobering. Staff was friendly and helpful.

Trina White

Don't miss this. There are many sites to see in South Dakota, but this is a must see for history buffs.

Tua Gravatte

Wow! I'm so glad we stopped here. Very well set up and film was great. Rangers were very friendly.

Jason Murgas

I liked the tour

Tom Margosian

Great exhibit, definitely recommend stopping by on your way down I-90.

Smasher 1303

I don't know where to begin. So we had reservations a couple months in advance, and we got an email with the tickets and an address to where the tour was. So on the day of we drove to where the address was and... it took us to the middle of nowhere. We tried getting tickets for later in the day but it was all sold out. No refund, or sorry for giving you the wrong address. Screw this place.

Phillip Hoggan

We happened across this while driving through. Really interesting and thought provoking. The volunteer who talked to us was retired air force who worked in this field and relayed many personal experiences which brought the exhibits to life.

Donald Kren

Interesting, but no actual control room or silo here, they are at sights further down the road and require advance planning to visit.

Carola Basaj

This was a cool side trip from our planned route! Kids loved it - very informative!

Amanda Leslie

Very cool place small but lots of stuff to see I didn't know that there were different parts to this place but I do know that the visitor center is 15 miles from the launch spot and from looking at the pics here I missed a lot bc I didn't drive the 15 miles to the launch pad

Ross Barchacky

Drove past here during the off-season on a family road trip. The rangers were very accommodating and the exhibits where interesting.

Jaehyup Kim

Really enjoyed this place. If you are visiting Badlands NP, why not make small detour and visit this little gem? Be sure to check missile silo site as well.

Keith Woeltje

Great place for a short visit. Chilling reminder of the cold war

Chris Miller

Very helpful staff, and fascinating displays.

Ben Sullenger

We stumbled onto this place while on our way to the Badlands National Park (they share the same exit). It was a quick stop, and my son enjoyed the Jr. Ranger activity.

Susan Brown

Very Informative.

Alex Mackey

The Minuteman Missile sites had been on my to-do list for years, and I finally had a chance to visit. Very much worth it! The museum is small, but manageable and informative. The staff is where it shines. Ranger Jim was a great host and very knowledgeable (he had worked as a missilier for eleven years). Ranger Jim's first hand experience illuminated the visit, and his stories were fascinating. This visitor's center, and the command center, and the Delta-09 facility are must-see stops.

Aaron Alaman

Come to a world where we measure ourselves by the size of our missiles! Learn all about the nuclear arms race and the tension of manning the launch button. Much has changed since the last time I visited like this super sweet visitor's center to educate you on all things nuclear and how the USA has (and continues) to defend our great country!

Susan Brackett

Located just outside the east entrance of the Badlands Loop, this is a great place to cool off and learn about the Cold War, MAD, and narrowly averted disasters. Gain an appreciation for being alive.

Kristy Kristy Ahearn

Very interesting and engaging. Souvenirs are pricey but the staff are friendly and knowledgeable.

Roger Blain

I was happily surprised to see the visitor center had been upgraded from a trailer to this nice building. It stands out rather attractively on this otherwise undeveloped area of prairie. The exhibits include things like consoles and equipment that once were deep underground, but also ones that explore the history of nuclear weapons, and the Cold War.

Lucinda H

Fascinating history. We had a ranger guide us through the Delta 09 site.

Jim Clearman

Fantastic facility with a knowledgeable staff, do take the time to tour the nearby launch complex.

Donna Criswell

This is a great National Historic Site with an informative visitor center, missile site & command center to view. Unfortunately, we tried 60 days before our visit to reserve a tour, with the threshold being 90 days - they were already booked solid that far in advance. Bottom line, if you want the command center tour, book 90 days in advance or you will not be taking the tour. Probably NOT enough tours offered during peak days so plan accordingly. I doubt we come this way again, but if we do, we will try again for the tour.

Jakub J

Really knowledgeable people and so much history! Swing by for a quick 30 min or 3h

Dan White

This place was awesome. I wish I could find my pictures from this day. The staff was VERY nice, knew a TON about the location and made the tour that much better. Self guided tour was nice too because you could stop where you wanted to and walk through the rest. I suggest checking up on times though, we actually had to catch this on our way out as when we came in, it was on a day when the tours were booked already. It was summer time so I'm sure it's not always like that, but it was worth the stop.

Kristina KeelWilcowski

Cool place to stop

Bethany B.

Great ‘MUST SEE’ feature in South Dakota!! So much history given here! If you are in the area you need to stop! You won’t be disappointed! The staff is friendly and the gift shop awesome too! Great facility!!

Angie Schrantz

Very interesting new museum in the middle of nowhere. Has interesting, interactive displays and a movie. We had no idea about the missiles.

Brad Barker

A unique look back at the history of the Cold War in America. Knowledgeable rangers help explain the history. Make sure to allow time to stop when passing by.

Lively Life

Friendly staff! Great for kids!

Alex L

Very interesting place to visit. Take time to read everything. I wish the Delta-01 launch control facility had beeon open the day I visited.

Vasant Agrawal

Good stop on your way to Mt Rushmore or Badlands National Park. If you want to do the guided tour of delta 01 facility you need to reserve a ticket in advance they don't take walkins. Delta 09 silo is accessible by your own vehicle.

Deborah Barron Brown

Yes the small visitor center is nice but I was really expecting to see a silo.

Frank DeLorenzo

A bit of US history that shouldn't be forgotten not dismissed.

Jamie Goodwin

Such a wonderful museum to share a piece of history, appealing to all age groups. There were so many exhibits to keep the interest of my small children, all the while visiting at the request of my husband!

Aaron Evarts

Was surprised by how cool this place was. Lots of neat info.

Andrew Quamme

A look back at our not-too-distant past, and all the times we almost destroyed the only known home to life in all of the universe. If only we could learn from our mistakes...

Eve T

Informative, helpful staff. Clean facility. Nice gift shop. A short documentary is played several times a day showcasing the Cold War and America's underground nuclear weapons. Worth a visit, especially if you're a history buff.

Anneliese Ploetz

Neat museum of the cold war era missile events. The visitors center is the main museum for the NHS, and there are two short videos, displays, and exhibits set up. Down the road there are also 2 sites where you can view test missiles. We didn't know beforehand and were continuing in the opposite direction along I-90. As always, like other NPS sites, the facility is well maintained and clean with exceptionally friendly staff.

Ruben Stemple

A great site with some interesting history. Watch the video closely... one of the Rangers worked at the missile site during the cold war. He confirmed that it was him but as typical with dedicated servicemen he was humble about his involvement. Well worth a visit.

Paulette McWaters

Great history, the movie is well worth it...only 30 minutes but so much information.

Nancy S

Fascinating history. Gift shop is excellent.

Paul Woida

There are 3 parts to this national park. You want to go to the visitors center first to learn about the background of the Minuteman Missile site and the time frame. You have to go online to schedule a tour of the command center at least a week in advance. You can go to the launch site of a missile. You need a good phone because the launch site is audio tour only. The missile there is not real, so you can forget the idea of becoming a nuclear power.

Matteo Stucchi

Very interesting although I was expecting something bigger. The 30m documentary is cool! Must also visit Delta-01 and Delta-09. Beware, the latter requires booking in advance!

Eliott Orr

Not the largest museum, but it is wells staffed and has great exhibits and videos detailing the cold war arms race, and the different ways that war was right on our doorsteps. There are several other nearby sites as well, including a silo that you can visit and a the launch center that has guided tours scheduled in advanced.

Candace Ballstadt

Plan this visit atleast one month ahead if not more if you want to tour a silo. The museum is wonderful and their Junior Ranger program is great.

Wayne Peck

Very interesting historical location. Well designed and appears to fairly put the historical context to the system put in place at the time. Free entry. Helpful staff.

wanderwoof

Driving through this fairly bearing part of the country you would never imagine you are so close to ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads. They had them pretty well hidden. The Visitor Center is nice and modern with informative displays

Stephanie DeLillo

Very informative exhibit. You can see one of the missiles a short ride up the road. Rangers were all really friendly and helpful.

Lisa Christy

What a neat look at history

Amy LaMore

As a child of the Cold War and "bomb drills, it was eerie to look down and see that missile! Worth the trip for sure!

Business Hours of Minuteman Missile Visitors Center in South Dakota

SUNDAY
CLOSED
MONDAY
CLOSED
TUESDAY
8AM–4PM
WEDNESDAY
8AM–4PM
THURSDAY
8AM–4PM
FRIDAY
8AM–4PM
SATURDAY
8AM–4PM

PHONE & WEBPAGE

Minuteman Missile Visitors Center en South Dakota
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