Here are some pictures from the Nike Missile Site Festival this past weekend! We’d like to thank all the volunteers, park staff and law enforcement for the hard work they put into making this festival possible. Special thank you to our FNPA team Caitlin and Johanne for holding down the tent (literally), and to our Everglades Institute team Claudia and Rosa for shuttling countless visitors to and from the Nike site throughout the day.
We look forward to the next festival and hope to continue this tradition; honoring the history of the site, as well as the soldiers who were stationed here.
If you would like to visit the Nike Missile Site, there is an open house from early December to late March. Check the park calendar for more details.
If you can’t make it here during that time, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Join the Everglades Institute on a Guided Van Tour for year-round, guided trips to the Nike Missile Site, along with other prominent areas within the park.
- Morning set up!
- NPS rangers excited to man the Tie-dye station
- 13th army band warming up
- 13th army band setting up their instruments and amplifiers
- Opening ceremony!
- Visitors pour into the Nike Site
- Chief of communications and public affairs, Allyson Gantt, speaking alongside Daniel Blankenship
- Rangers setting up water rockets by the historic Missile Assembly station
- Families ready to launch their missiles
- Rangers setting up the water rockets
- Retired Park Ranger, Leon Howell leading a group to Barn C on his Nike Missile Program
- The Antique Automotive Club of America, South Florida Region showcased vehicle from the Cold War era.
- Flamingo Everglades cooking up good food for hungry visitors!
- Our Director of Retail, Caitlin Attong holding down the fort
- 13th army band rocking out!
- Homestead police department showcasing their K9’s
- This K9’s ready to pounce
- Brace yourself!
- This K9 didn’t want the fun to end!
- Onlookers marveling at the power and intelligence of these creatures
- The event had over 1,500 visitors!
- Dr Anthony Atwood teaches us about the history of the Cuban Missile Crisis from start to finish
- Visitors gazing upon a real Nike Missile
- The kids had a great time at the Water Rocket station!
- Ranger Max Tax providing “Rocket Fuel”
- Takeoff!
- Takeoff!
- One final guided tour of the site before the day is finished