Titan Missile Historic Site

On our Presidents Day Trip, we looped south down I-19 after running around at Saguaro National Park.  As we drove through Green Valley, we saw the sign for the Titan Missile National Historic Site.  Since it was a free weekend at the National Parks, we shrugged and pulled off the exit to see what the Titan Missile site was all about.  As we pulled into the parking lot we saw two roadrunners playing in the brush outside the Count Ferdinand von Galen Titan Missile Museum building.  They ran around, jumping and flapping their wings at each other before they ran off further into the brush.  Smiling, we unloaded the kids, then walked inside. 

Inside, there is a museum and gift shop, with a front desk where tours are booked and paid for.  We learned that the Titan Missile National Historic Site is not run by the National Park Service, and that the tours are not recommended for small children.  Well- so much for that idea!  They run about $10/adult and although it sounded interesting, knowing the state of our kids and that it wasn't recommended for ones as young as they are (under the age of 4), we passed on the tour and just wandered through the museum.  It was interesting learning more about the Cold War, politics, and divergent ideologies- essentially boiling down to control and some people thinking they know better then other people.  Basically, another recurrence of a theme that plays on an endless loop throughout the history of man.   The canned water, prepackaged meals, and fallout shelters mentioned as a way to survive the nuclear fallout all sounded a little less then pleasant to me.  We stepped outside and from the other side of the fence looked at the top of the silo.  It looked very similar to the one we saw a few years back at the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. 

Overall, the Titan Missile National Historic Landmark was so-so to visit with kids.  Most of the exhibits were too advanced for them.  There were lots of veterans that were certainly enjoying the visit.  I would have liked it more too without the kids.  I could have really gotten in to the tour!

Nearest City: Green Valley, AZ
Location: 1580 W. Duval Mine Road, Green Valley, AZ
Time Needed: No tour- 30 min.  With a tour- 1-2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Kid Friendly: You'll have more fun without young kids.
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