Few People Know About The 18 Titan II Missile Silos Hiding In Several Counties in Arkansas
By Melanie Johnson|Published May 03, 2023
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Melanie Johnson
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I am a nature lover and self-proclaimed foodie wrapped in one package. In my previous life, I was an Accountant, but numbers were boring and writing is the only thing that fuels my soul. So, I write because it's my freedom...it brings me joy. When I'm not writing dope articles for OnlyInYourState, I am writing and editing articles for my online blog on Medium.com. Or, when I get the chance, I am off on a trip with my family chasing waterfalls, or simply exploring the great outdoors. My mantra is to always find the best part of every day and bask in it.
Perhaps you read our previous article about this incredible Titan II Missile complex vacation rental in Arkansas. But did you know that this complex was just 1 of 18 that existed in the state? Scattered throughout Faulkner, Conway, White, Van Buren, and Cleburne counties, these missile silos were an active part of the nuclear Cold War. Each Titan II missile was designed with a range of over 9,000 miles, which means they could easily hit targets in Europe as well as Asia. Keep reading to hear more about these abandoned missile silos hiding in Arkansas.
Did you know that Arkansas could've been the site of a major nuclear catastrophe? There were 18 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) scattered throughout several counties in the state.
In 1953, as part of its missile program, the United States government began constructing nuclear weapons. This was in response to the Soviet Union’s detonation of their own.
The Titan II missiles were housed in military bases in Kansas, Arizona, as well as Arkansas. Standing at 103 feet tall with a range of over 9,000 miles, these missiles were a sight to behold.
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While there were 18 complexes in Arkansas, manned by the Little Rock AFB, there are 2 that stand out the most. The 374-7 in Damascus and the 373-4 near Searcy, were the sites of 2 deadly accidents.
Once completed in 1962, launch complex 373-4 was the first to go live in 1963. And it served as protection against the Soviet Union’s potential attack.
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After a few years of successful operation, tragedy struck on August 9, 1965, when a fire broke out after improvements were being made to the facility.
Unfortunately, 53 civilians lost their lives on that terrible day. The good news is, the warhead was disarmed, so a major catastrophe was avoided.
Consequently, the missile that was at the 373-4 site was relocated to launch complex 374-7 near Damascus and was unfortunately involved in an accident.
Eventually, the leak led to an explosion that killed 1 and injured many others. Thankfully, due to its safety features, the nuclear head did not detonate, but the silo complex was completely destroyed.
After additional mishaps at other facilities, efforts were made by the Reagan administration to dismantle all the launch sites in Arkansas as well as in the other states.
As a result, in 1987, the 25-year missile program came to an end.
Today, four missile complexes in Arkansas are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Although the sites have been filled with dirt and gravel, their below-ground control centers are still intact.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much to see, just mounds of dirt as well as grass that was implanted after the sites were filled.
Did you know about these abandoned missile silos hiding in Arkansas? If so, have you visited any of these complexes that are hiding in plain sight? Tell us in the comments below.
