MIMI_Ranger

If you've been out to Delta 9 lately, you've probably seen our maintenance crew working with some contractors out at the site, working on a renovation project. Al Hall also made his last visit of the season to help them out.

And the race is on! The launch of Sputnik on October 4, 1957, became the catalyst that launched the Space Race. And just over ten years later, the United States would win that race by putting the first men on the moon.

Ranger Jim has been interviewed by the Heritage Foundation! The Heritage Foundation interviews veterans for the Library of Congress’ Veterans Heritage Project (VHP). Jim’s interview will also be included in the Veterans Heritage Project publication “Since You Asked”.

We were asked yesterday what's the coolest thing in our museum, and we have to say the RV shroud is one of our pride and joys. Ron Samoian procured and donated it to the park. This green ceramic cone covered the warhead at the tip of a Minuteman II missile.

For yesterday's "Where is Bert?", he was visiting Allegheny Portage Railroad!

Happy Birthday to the United States Air Force! The Air Force was officially declared a branch of the military on September 18, 1947, although dedicated military personnel had been serving in this capacity since World War I. Today, it boasts of a force of 689,000 personnel.

For this week's "Where is Bert?" What park is he visiting in these photos?

Ed McMahon was the Facility Manager who installed the original wallpaper for the deer herd mural at Delta-01 in the 1970s!

For yesterday's "Where is Bert?", Bert is visiting Johnstown Flood National Memorial!

For another "Where is Bert?" As he visits another park, where do you think he's at this time?

The Return of the Black Hills Bandits! We were visited yesterday by alumni of the 44th Strategic Missile Wing. It was so great to visit with them as they walked through Delta-01 and swapped stories of the missile field. Thank you for your service!

For yesterday's "Where is Bert?", Bert here is at Fort Necessity! "The battle at Fort Necessity...was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures...The stage was set for the American Revolution."

Another "Where is Bert?" Our very own turtle is out on a road trip, exploring with one of our rangers. So where do you think he is now?

An interesting comparison of the older control center at Delta-01 with a modern one, circa late-1990s/early-2000s. The South Dakota wing has the original design plan. The photo with the crew's chairs side by side is a modification installed in the late 1990s to early 2000s.

For our new series, we dropped these photos of Bert on a road trip. Here he is visiting Friendship Hill in Pennsylvania!

Introducing a new series: "Where is Bert?" Bert decided to hitch a ride with one of our rangers on his trip to his new park. Bert really wanted to get out and visit some other parks. So, which park is he visiting in these photos?

We enjoyed having Bret Whitmore and Bruce Bedard out to the park yesterday to talk with visitors about the Peacekeeper and the role of the security police in the missile fields.

It's been just over 60 years since the Delta-01 and Delta-09 sites went active and 25 years since Congress passed the legislation to establish the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. Here's a walk through the past from active missile facilities to national park! #NPS108

The Minutemen were members of the colonial militias during the American Revolution who were always ready to fight "at a minute's notice". The missile was named after them to evoke a patriotic spirit and because it too was ready to launch "at a minute's notice".

Another look at that cable from yesterday's WHAT is it Wednesday. The Hardened Intersite Cable (HICS) ran underground connecting the missile launch facilities and control centers together.