Nike Missile Site SF-88L — Attraction in Marin City

A Missile that Hits its Target

Pros: Amazing piece of Cold War American engineering. The missiles are huge and beautifully restored and kept. It is amazing to be able to still see such a great site near San Francisco. You will be able to learn a whole lot more about the Cold War and the defense network that existed around San Francisco. A lot of stuff you don't learn in traditional school textbooks or even from popular culture. The guides here are great. They know a lot and are more than willing to answer any and all questions. Here you can find an example of some of the earliest computers in the US military. Great drive, the view of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco around this area is amazing. Free admission is also great!

Cons: The unclear signage can be quite confusing. Also, it's quite the trek to the site. There are very few, if any public buses. Driving is the main and best way to get to this location. Limited hours that its open.

Tips: Please do call the Marin Headlands visitors office before visiting, as the hours are quite limited. Also make sure to wait for a tour, when you arrive it may seem deserted, but as long as they are open there will be a tour soon. Signage is unclear, but surely not to be missed.

Also, it might be worth it to make it a day trip and visit Point Bonita Lighthouse. They are really close and both are well...

This restored Nike missile site was an easy half-day trip from San Mateo. The drive alone is worth the effort because the views from Conzelman Rd. of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco are amazing. Our daughter thought of this visit as an extra credit project for her AP US history class. The facility did not disappoint: it has been painstakingly restored to its Cold War condition. The volunteer staff are clearly passionate about their work. They are former Nike operators who can describe not only the purpose and operation of the facility but also their feelings and experiences as active participants in the 40-year nuclear stand-off. Watching a Nike Hercules rise from an underground bunker and lock into launch position is impressive, but going down into the bunker itself and seeing 6 restored missiles lined up on a conveyor, knowing that each one once carried a nuclear warhead with 3X the destructive power of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, is mind-boggling. At this site you can experience the sights, sounds, and feelings of an important piece of...

Wow. Coming here was an absolute treat. I lucked out; apparently on the first Saturday of each month, the museum is staffed by veterans who actually served at this particular installation and will regale you both with personal stories of their time in the service and the inner workings of the machinery on the base.

Learning the unique history of this base from the men who ran it was a unique honor. Being able to get up close and personal with the missiles themselves was a whole different ballgame. This site still has a functional missile lift and, if you ask nicely, they will actually raise and lower the massive 40ft weapon on the elevator. It's extraordinary to witness in person and imagine what it must have been like when the base went to alert status and soldiers would scramble to ready the weapons for a possible engagement.

There are also lots of beautiful trails nearby, including one to the Point Bonita lighthouse. You can spend hours here. Special thanks to Al Kellogg, whose stories I could've...