Category Archives: Education

Explore the remnants and learn the story of a United States military missile testing laboratory from the height of the Cold War (1962-1974) hidden in the canyon lands outside of Green River, Emery County, Utah.

From the White Sands Missile Range Museum’s Archival Research CenterEdited for this website by Jenn Jett, Museum SpecialistEditor’s note: This narrative is undated, but is likely from the 1950’s-1960’s. The text of this document has been minimally altered and should be viewed from its contemporary perspective. Named after the goddess of victory of Greek mythology,Continue reading “The Early Development of the Nike Missile”

By Jim Eckles, Hands Across History Newsletter Editor Originally published in the November 2020 edition of the Hands Across History Newsletter As a curious retiree with some time on my hands this year, I started thinking about the photo shown below that is usually labeled as the “first flag raising” at the new White SandsContinue reading “Editor Jumps Deeply Into Trivia Rabbit Hole”

By Jim Eckles, Editor, Hands Across History Newsletter, White Sands Missile Range Historical Foundation

Some of the weapons tested at WSMR had a great impact not only for their military uses, but in a larger geopolitical context. One of these is the Pershing II missile and the role it played in the 1983 “War Scare.” Because of President Ronald Reagan’s heated anti-Soviet rhetoric, fears the Soviet Leadership and KGB had of an American first strike, and events of 1983, the US and USSR came closer to nuclear war than at any time since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

By Darren Court, WSMR Museum Director/Curator

From the White Sands Missile Range Museum Archives

By Peter L. Eidenbach, Adjunct College Professor of Anthropology, New Mexico State University Alamogordo

From the White Sands Missile Range Museum Archives