FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Sundlov
December 2, 2011
(701) 797-3691
BISMARCK – The Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site near Cooperstown in east central North Dakota is offering the first of three unique, in-depth tours of the Oscar-Zero Missile Alert Facility.
Join former U.S. Air Force Missile Combat Crew Commander and current Site Supervisor Mark Sundlov for a special in-depth tour of the Oscar-Zero facility. Sundlov and a special guest tour guide will go deep into the working operations of a Missile Alert Facility and provide guests with a comprehensive understanding of the command and control system, the power and air systems, and the communication systems. Sundlov will deliver this tour from a former crew member’s perspective and with the knowledge gained through serving as an Air Force missileer.
Additionally, Sundlov will be joined by a special guest. The special guest, who once worked at the facility, will bring personal stories as well as additional technical details to the tour.
On Saturday, December 17, Tom Perdue, a former missile maintainer will join Sundlov as a special guest tour guide. It’s hard to think of somebody that better knows the ins and outs of missile field maintenance than Perdue. His work in the missile field began in 1965, when the sites were still be constructed, and continued into the late 1980s when he worked on a special life extension team for the Minuteman system. For most of the site’s history, if something happened that involved maintenance, Perdue was usually in the know. Perdue will share his personal stories from his days in the missile field and will discuss some of the challenges involved with keeping a multi-million dollar weapon system in top working condition.
Additional tours, with different guests, will be scheduled for January and February.
Guests are encouraged to view this as a special opportunity to not only listen and learn but more importantly to engage and ask questions. Don’t miss this special opportunity to hear about life on the front lines of the Cold War.
Tours will start at 10 a.m. and last until 12:30 p.m. Following the tour, guests will drive to the Griggs County Museum in Cooperstown, home of the Northern Plains Cold War Interpretive Center, and enjoy a hearty, catered lunch from the Friends of Oscar-Zero.
These special tours are limited. Guests must register and pay by the Wednesday (December 14) prior to the December 17 tour. Call (701) 797-3691 or email msundlov@nd.gov to register. Each tour is limited to 10 guests. The fee for the tour is $35 (cash or checks must be directed to the Friends of Oscar-Zero). The fee includes the in-depth tour of Oscar-Zero, the hearty lunch, and access to the Griggs County Museum. Proceeds will benefit the non-profit Friends of Oscar-Zero, the Griggs County Museum, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
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Address:
612 East Boulevard Ave.
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505
Get Directions
Hours:
Exhibit galleries and Museum Store: 8am - 5pm M-F; Sat. & Sun. 10am - 5pm.
State Archives: 8am - 4:30pm., M-F, except legal holidays, and 2nd Sat. of each month, 10am - 4:30 pm.
State Historical Society offices: 8am - 5pm M-F, except legal holidays.
Contact Us:
phone: (701) 328-2666
fax: (701) 328-3710
email: histsoc@nd.gov
