US Army Nike-Hercules Site

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This is believed to be a former site of one of the Army's anti-aircraft missile batteries that protected the nation's capitol during the Cold War. Developed in the 1950's, the Nike, Nike-Ajax, and Nike-Hercules systems were intended to shoot down Soviet bombers if they made it this far.

Most of these systems were outdated by the 1960's and decommissioned by 1974.

In this 2006 photo, the administration buildings of the former site can be seen just east of the National Weather Service's buildings. The buildings have since been removed. All of the Nike sites' locations were classified, although neighbors weren't easily fooled. Although this site is not listed in any website, it is well known to local (older) pilots as a former Nike site.