Minutemen and Jackalopes

On Wednesday we went on an aeronautical road trip to the South Dakota Air and Space Museum, just east of Rapid City on the edge of the Badlands. As I am a bit hazy on the details, I have asked James to summarise our experience as follows:

"During the Cold War, Ellsworth Air Base (beside which the museum is located) was the headquarters of the U.S. Minuteman missile nuclear deterrent, with over 150 missiles located throughout South Dakota. Within the museum we were able to see a replica of the command centre complete with the two keys required to be turned simultaneously in order to launch the missiles. These were twelve feet apart to prevent one individual from initiating the launch. On the command centre door there was a Dominoes pizza logo with a sign saying "We deliver anywhere in the world in thirty minutes or less or your next one is free!" On a short trip onto the base we were able to visit a missile training silo and descend for a closer look at the missile. This brought to life what it must have been like during the Cold War; the missiles lurking in their silos dotted across the prairies; the missileers locked down in their underground command centres awaiting the signal to launch." Thanks James! 

On the road back to Custer we noticed lots of signs for "Wall Drug" which is an institution in these parts. We visited it and had some very nice, freshly made sandwiches there. It is a family business started in the 1930s by a young pharmacist and his wife. At first business was slow and they were worried that they wouldn't be able to make ends meet, however they had the idea of offering free iced water to the many motorists who were passing on the nearby road (now the interstate I90) on their way to the newly opened Mount Rushmore. They made road signs with this offer and as a result their trade increased dramatically; the original drug store is now huge and sells all sorts of gifts and memorabilia, it has a restaurant, and for some reason it has a giant dinosaur outside it. It also has a huge moving dinosaur head to amuse children, (reminiscent of the Time Capsule in Coatbridge), and various exhibits including a mythical giant animal called a jackalope which is a combination of a rabbit and an antelope. Yes I know, it sounds awful, but in its own way it's kind of magnificent!