Dug In and Cold: Anchorage’s Hidden Missile Bunkers
Inspired by the Anchorage Museum exhibition, Cold War to the Cosmos: Distant Early Warning Systems and the Arctic, on view through 2026
July 30, 2025
Dug In and Cold: Anchorage’s Hidden Missile Bunkers
Anchorage, Alaska, a city known for its vast wilderness and stunning landscapes, hides a piece of its Cold War past that most locals and visitors never see. Nestled in Kincaid Park, far from the hustle and bustle of city life, lie the remnants of a once-secret military installation that once stood at the forefront of the U.S. defense strategy. These hidden missile bunkers, now overgrown with moss and surrounded by trees, tell a fascinating and little-known story about Anchorage’s role in America’s Cold War defense system.
Tucked into the woods of Kincaid Park lies a piece of Cold War history few know exists.
Fact: From the late 1950s through the 1970s, Anchorage was home to Nike-Hercules missile sites—part of a national defense system designed to intercept Soviet bombers.
The installation, once called Site Point, was a vital part of the Nike-Hercules missile defense system, active from 1959 to 1979. These sites were designed to protect Alaska’s military infrastructure and prevent any potential Soviet bombers from reaching the heart of the United States. Alaska, with its strategic location near the Soviet Union, was a crucial defense point in the early days of the Cold War when intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) were not yet the primary threat.
These reinforced structures once housed nuclear-capable missiles on high alert during the Cold War.
Fact: Site Summit and other Anchorage-area batteries were among the northernmost outposts in the U.S. air defense network.
With 40 Hiroshima-strength nuclear missiles stationed here at one point, Site Point’s bunkers were designed to be the first line of defense. If Soviet bombers carrying nuclear warheads had attempted to strike, Anchorage’s Nike-Hercules missiles would have been the first to intercept them—long before they reached more sensitive areas of the United States.
The bunkers themselves, often referred to as "sections" during the Cold War, were tough, reinforced structures capable of withstanding the pressure of a nuclear explosion. Each missile housed in these bunkers was capable of carrying two nuclear warheads—each with a devastating power equivalent to the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. These missiles had a maximum range extending from Kincaid Park all the way to Talkeetna, over 100 miles away, and they could be in the air in under 5 minutes.
Veteran guides shared memories and stories from a time when Anchorage stood at the edge of world conflict.
Fact: Soldiers stationed here lived under the constant tension of Cold War readiness—many trained to launch within seconds.
Walking through the bunkers today, one can almost feel the tension that once gripped these soldiers. The personnel stationed at Site Point had an incredibly high level of preparedness, as they were tasked with keeping these missiles on high alert at all times. If an enemy bomber was detected, the goal was to detonate the warheads seven miles above the ground, thereby minimizing the blast radius and reducing the damage from a potential nuclear strike.
Despite the readiness of the defense system, the missiles were never used in combat. The threat of nuclear war, though terrifying, was kept at bay, largely due to the constant deterrent of military preparedness on both sides. The bunkers at Kincaid Park were among the last remnants of this era.
Today, joggers and cyclists pass by bunkers that once formed a critical part of America’s nuclear defense.
Fact: Nike sites were decommissioned in the 1970s. Now, the remnants remain as silent reminders of a tense era.
While the Nike-Hercules missiles were decommissioned in the 1970s, Kincaid Park has become a peaceful place for recreation. Today, joggers, cyclists, and hikers pass by the bunkers, unaware of the military history that once defined the area. The Chalet, originally built as a bunker, still stands as a curious symbol of the past, blending seamlessly into the landscape while remaining a quiet reminder of the Cold War era.
Anchorage, and particularly Kincaid Park, has been a crossroads of history where military strategy once played a critical role in shaping the course of global conflict.
A Monument to Cold War Vigilance
Today, while there are no longer nuclear weapons at Kincaid Park, the bunkers and remnants of Site Point stand as a testament to a time when the world teetered on the brink of nuclear war. These structures, now part of Anchorage’s landscape, provide a tangible connection to a past many may only know through history books. Their stories remind us of the thin line between peace and conflict, and the vigilance that kept the world from slipping into chaos.
So, the next time you take a jog through Kincaid Park, or hike its forested trails, take a moment to reflect on the hidden Cold War history beneath your feet. It's a legacy that continues to echo through the landscape of Anchorage, forever marking this place as one of the key battlegrounds of a turbulent, tense era.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
Cold War to the Cosmos: Distant Early Warning Systems and the Arctic examines the Arctic's strategic importance during the Cold War and underscores ways the era fueled global tensions around technology, free expression, and the limits of human progress. As the U.S. and Soviet Union pushed technological boundaries, from missile detection systems to moon landings, the world lived under the constant shadow of nuclear fear, grappling with the promises and perils of the Atomic Age.