![]() The above ground Oscar-Zero building housed an 8 person security and maintenance team. Everything was kept exactly as it was before this site was decommissioned in the 1990s. It was originally built in the mid 1960's and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. Dakota, Oscar-Zero is the only one remaining intact. Of the original 5 MAFs of the squadron located in this area of N. Oscar-Zero is the code-name of this gated Missile Alert Facility (MAF) about 4 miles north of Cooperstown. This museum does a great job of preserving and interpreting the history of the Minuteman missile system and the crews that manned the sites during the Cold War. Tip: I recommend spending 2 hours here if you truly want to see everything. The tour was extremely interesting and we learned a lot about what life was like for the many military personnel who worked at the site. The tour guide then brought us underground to the basement, where we saw original pieces of equipment and learned about the day to day life of the workers who worked there. We also learned about the different roles that the workers had at the facility. We got to see the day area, dining area, kitchen, several bedrooms and bathrooms. The tour guide was very informative and shared her knowledge on the different rooms as we passed by them. After the video was done, we then went on a 1.5 hour tour of the building. Once we bought our tickets, we were shown a brief 20 minute video about the origin of nuclear weapons, along with how the building was developed and the purpose it served. There were several informational plaques inside that gave some insight about the Cold War and how the United States started to develop nuclear weapons. Great trip! We arrived at approximately 3:30 pm and made our way inside to buy tickets. I think the kids also enjoyed it more than they may have thought they would. They know what they have, but they are not military and do not know all of what was originally top secret information about the place. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff - to a point. Prices were really reasonable for entry costs, so we spent a fair amount in getting gift shop items to help support the place being open and running. And yet, for all the electronic advancements, this was one of the places built to withstand a direct nuclear strike behind four feet of concrete, rebar, and steel plates. Someone asked about the banks of electronics and computers summarizing that now all that could fit onto a laptop. The vaults underground are a great window into what was the cutting edge of technology but is now so behind. Felt a bit weird to have facts from your childhood now considered part of "history", but the place is a shrine to the 1980's (as the last time it was updated before being decommissioned). The tour was great and I would recommend getting there in time to watch the video (unless you and your party have a good working memory of the cold war and what it was like). You cannot tell from the road, but this is a tour not just in the visible building on the surface but in the (intentionally hidden) bunkers underneath the surface. Great little state historical museum/complex. ![]() Ended up here while visiting where my wife grew up.
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