February 23, 2007

February 23, 2007

Our friends wanted to see some of the attractions in Tucson so we picked two for today. We started out south of Tucson touring the Titan II Missile Historic Site. In the small lobby museum we learn a little of the history of the Cold War, the ideological and economic struggle between the US and Russia. The Titan IIs were Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, ICBMs, deployed in 1962 as a nuclear deterrent to real war thru a program of mutually assured destruction. Tucson was one of three sites in the US that had Titans. All were destroyed by peace treaty in the eighties except one silo here that was preserved as an historical artifact.

After seeing a short movie in the “briefing room”, we don hardhats and tour the grounds. On the surface we are able to peer down a half-open silo and see a 103 ft missile waiting to be unleashed. Like a missile crew on a 24-hour shift, we then descend down 55 stairs thru two secure blast doors to the original command center. There we learn the top-secret activation protocol, launch codes, keys and all. One of our friends pushes “the” button. Fortunately this old missile is a dud and the world is still safe when we return to the surface.

After lunching on the University of Arizona campus, we next head to the Colossal Caverns. On the way it begins to rain and the temperature drops precipitously to 45F. After shivering for 30 minutes, we begin our guided tour. Oddly the cave is 72F and dry. It feels great. We sure picked the right day to spend underground. Coincidentally we learn that Colossal also has a Cold War connection. It once served as a bomb shelter for the local population.