Homestead Nike Missile Site

Naturally, when one lives on an island full of abandoned Cold War-era military buildings and assorted detritus, the first priority upon leaving said island is... to find more Cold War-era historical sites! At least if you are Ivan. Because I am the best wife ever, I woke up at 5:30am and drove (well, he drove, I napped) four hours from Palm Island to the Everglades to tour the Homestead Nike Site. (More on Palm Island and The Villages later...)

Ivan is involved in the preservation efforts for the Anchorage Nike site (Site Summit) through Friends of Nike Site Summit, so he was particularly excited to see this lower-48 counterpart, which was erected following the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 to provide defense against potential air attack from Cuba. Interestingly, the Anchorage and Homestead Nike sites are the only three (of dozens, mostly concentrated around major metropolitan areas) to be primarily above-ground. In Anchorage and Fairbanks, it was impossible to have below-ground silos due to permafrost, while in the Everglades, the extremely high water table was to blame.

Much much more on Nike missiles here. And now, pictures!

This was a particularly creepy sign (and written in high school Spanish!) 

Folk art, with an additional tag from local hooligans. If it were 40 degrees colder, this could have been taken on Adak...

The "barn," where a restored missile is stored.

Another could-be-Adak moment-- the firing bunker (where the crew would retreat after performing their readiness tasks, and from which the missiles would actually be launched). 

The dramatically-revealed missile. Quite a sight!

The warhead casing.

Inside the storage area. Note the instructions for electrical injury. 

The administration building, about a mile away and near the radar domes. Painted pink as an attempt at camouflage (or possibly because it was the only color of paint available in 60s South Florida!)

The Nike site was well worth the drive, and the volunteer-led tour was very informative. The tour guide did a great job setting the scene and the mood, and led us all to imagine what it would have been like the man to missiles and radar. 

We also had enough time to visit the Royal Palm Visitors Center and the main Welcome Center, and to walk the Anhinga and Gumbo Limbo trails. Many more pictures-- including close-ups of alligators!-- to follow.

Cozy

 The walk is shoveled!

Hot cocoa has been made! (Complete with now-paid for marshmallows.)

Time to settle in for a cozy, snow-bound evening.

And a very happy first night of Hanukkah!

Evening Stroll / Stargazing

We went for an evening walk up to the water tanks that sit above the town.

Which quickly turned into a dusky walk. That little bright spot above Ivan's head to the right is Jupiter. Below it is a snow-capped mountain, barely visible.

And then a night walk. This is the view from the water tanks-- the lights are the occupied houses, and some of the airport and port buildings too. The darkness really emphasizes the extent of the abandoned and disused buildings.

As we walked and the sky darkened, the stars started to pop out. It was a completely clear and quite cold day, and we saw so many stars. Although the island is great for stargazing in terms of light pollution, the clouds mostly prevent it. But tonight was perfect. We could see dozens of constellations, the milky way, and shooting stars.

It was nice to get out of the house, get some fresh air, admire the vast universe, and throw some wishes out to the cosmos.

Paper

 

Our gifts to each other this first year were cumulative. They were airplane tickets and employment contracts, letters of resignation, social security forms, and hours spent at the DMV.  They were patience and understanding and seven months of loneliness. They were worth it.

Our ketubah sits thousands of miles away, stored and ready to be hung when we have found a permanent (physical) home. We have already found our permanent home.