Meg Archer is an Editor & Newsletter Editor who has called Oregon home for nearly 30 years. She spent her childhood exploring the mountains, forests, and high desert of Central Oregon before relocating to Portland after a brief stint out-of-state for college. She holds an B.A. in English from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo and a B.S. in Psychology from Portland State University. Meg has worked in writing, editing, and media-related fields for over 10 years and joined the team at OnlyInYourState in 2015. When she’s not writing or exploring the West Coast, Meg enjoys playing tabletop games, working on visual media projects, and can always be found in the front row at Portland Timbers matches.
Out where the wind blows free and the plains roll over gentle hills, a silent giant now rests quietly beneath our feet. All but forgotten now, this once important strategic piece of American history now holds only the purest darkness, spine-tingling silence, and breathtaking sights.
The Titan Nuclear Missile Program was designed in January 1955 to counter and deter the Russian nuclear missile program during the Cold War. The Titan missile was one of the first intercontinental ballistic missiles developed by the United States.
The Titan Program was short lived, as the missile was phased out in 1965. Though none were ever fired in military action, the Titan missiles were silent guardians, ready to be launched in a moments notice.
The Titan missile bases were dispersed between six squadrons in five states, including two squadrons in Colorado. Each squadron was then deployed in a 3x3 pattern, that is, three bases each with three missiles/silos.
A unique feature of a Titan base was that it was built entirely underground, with everything the crews would need to operate and survive. The bases were built to withstand a nuclear blast and even the bathrooms were entirely shock-proof!
When the last Titan missile being decommissioned in 1965, the bases were simply abandoned.
Many have become flooded by nature, some are now owned and used by private owners, and one has become a museum. If you’re lucky enough to come across one of these abandoned giants, you’ll leave behind the world you knew once you step inside. There is no light. There is no sound. You’re mind will struggle to comprehend and appreciate the enormity and wonder that is a Titan base. You will leave a changed person.
You can find further information and the history of these cool abandoned locations at the Titan Missiles Museum. Note: For your own safety and the respect for property owners who post warnings, do not enter underground areas on private land without permission. Trespassing is illegal, and the tickets and fines for ignoring these laws are expensive.
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