Nike Missile Site and Everglades National Park

We left Pembroke Pines and drove south on A1A through Miami Beach to the Everglades National Park.  We spent 3 nights at the very nice Long Pine Key Campground within the park.

While at the park we took a tour of the HM-69 Nike Missile Site which is contained in the Everglades National Park, which has a fascinating story of its role during the Cuban Missile Crisis and Cold War with Communist Cuba just over 100 miles away.

Missile Assembly Building with original 1960's soldier murals.

Missile Hangar, which 4 missiles were kept in at all times (1 each with nuclear warhead) and rolled out on their launchers on a system of tracks.

Missile on carrier in the hangar.

Unrestored booster rockets

Original "deadly force authorized" warning signs from the active facility.

Missile and shipping container

Nike launch site below

After we finished the tour we headed to Royal Palm Visitor Center to stroll along the Anhinga and Gumbo Limbo Trails.  We saw lots of Alligators and other large birds/wildlife on the Anhinga Trail.

Here I am standing next to a Gumbo Limbo tree on the Gumbo Limbo Trail.

This is the view across the vast expanse of the Everglades.

We were very fortunate that the rains held off during our tour and trail walks.  Unfortunately, it started pouring right in the middle of cooking dinner!

We ended up having homemade pizza finished in the microwave instead.