M-74 Nike Missile Site
Waukesha, Wisconsin
In operation from 1956 to 1971, the Nike Missile Site in Waukesha, WI, designated M-74, was one of eight missile sites that surrounded Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The missile sites were designed to protect urban areas from enemy aerial attack.
The M-74 Nike missile base was located in Waukesha, approximately 15 miles west of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The M-74 Areas
M-74 Nike Missile Base, Waukesha, WI
The M-74 missile site, like all other Nike missile sites, was located on two parcels of land: One was the Integrated Fire Control (IFC) area, the other being the launcher area. For this particular missile base, the launcher area was one mile south of the IFC area.
The IFC area is where the ground-based radars and computers were located; it was designed to detect and track enemy aircraft. The top marker on the map at left shows where the M-74 IFC area was located.
The second parcel of land is the launcher area. This is where the Nike missiles were stored and, if need be, fired from. The bottom marker on the map shows where the M-74 launcher area was located.
Note: For most Nike missile bases, the IFC area was located between the launcher area and the urban area that the base was design to protect. However, that was not the case for Nike base M-74: The launcher area was located one mile south of the the IFC area, while Milwaukee was east of both the IFC and launcher areas. The IFC was not located between the launcher area and Milwaukee.
For a more in-depth overview of the Nike Air Defense Missile, visit http://www.techbastard.com/missile/nike/index.php
The IFC area is where the ground-based radars and computers were located; it was designed to detect and track enemy aircraft. The top marker on the map at left shows where the M-74 IFC area was located.
The second parcel of land is the launcher area. This is where the Nike missiles were stored and, if need be, fired from. The bottom marker on the map shows where the M-74 launcher area was located.
Note: For most Nike missile bases, the IFC area was located between the launcher area and the urban area that the base was design to protect. However, that was not the case for Nike base M-74: The launcher area was located one mile south of the the IFC area, while Milwaukee was east of both the IFC and launcher areas. The IFC was not located between the launcher area and Milwaukee.
For a more in-depth overview of the Nike Air Defense Missile, visit http://www.techbastard.com/missile/nike/index.php
The M-74 IFC Area
Today, the M-74 IFC area is known as Hillcrest Park, located in Waukesha, WI. The satellite view of the park at left shows the mess hall, radar towers, blast building, and barracks. The city of Waukesha added the water tank after the missile base was closed.
The photos below were taken in 2009. Click on the photos to enlarge
Left: Entrance to Hillcrest Park, which was the location of the IFC for the M-74 Nike missile base. The mess hall can barely be seen at the end of the driveway.
Center: Dedication marker inside the park.
Right: View from the park. This photo shows that the IFC was located on a piece of land that was higher than the surrounding area. Whenever possible, control areas were constructed on high ground in order to gain superior radar coverage of the area.
Center: Dedication marker inside the park.
Right: View from the park. This photo shows that the IFC was located on a piece of land that was higher than the surrounding area. Whenever possible, control areas were constructed on high ground in order to gain superior radar coverage of the area.
Left: Foreground is the pad where the barracks formerly stood. The mess hall is in the background.
Center: Dedication marker, flag pole, and mess hall.
Right: Flag pole.
Center: Dedication marker, flag pole, and mess hall.
Right: Flag pole.
Left: Pad where barracks once stood.
Center: The radar towers.
Right: The radar towers in the background; the blast building is on the right.
Center: The radar towers.
Right: The radar towers in the background; the blast building is on the right.
The radar towers.
Left: The radar towers are in the foreground; the blast building is behind them. Behind the blast building is a circular water reservoir, which was built after the missile base was closed.
Center: Barracks pads in foreground; radar towers and blast building in background. Further back is the circular water reservoir and apartment buildings, neither of which were around when the base was active.
Right: Blast building at the end.
Center: Barracks pads in foreground; radar towers and blast building in background. Further back is the circular water reservoir and apartment buildings, neither of which were around when the base was active.
Right: Blast building at the end.
The M-74 Launcher Area
The area is now known as Missile Park, located in Waukesha, WI.
Probably the most interesting thing to see at this site was an old guard shack next to the entrance. Supposedly the underground magazines are still there but are buried under concrete slabs and piles of wood chips.
Probably the most interesting thing to see at this site was an old guard shack next to the entrance. Supposedly the underground magazines are still there but are buried under concrete slabs and piles of wood chips.
Left: Guard shack next to the entrance.
Left center: Entrance to the launch site. The guard shack (not in photo) is to the left of the entrance.
Right center: Old light, located on the road to the launch site.
Far right: Approximately 300 feet past the gate on way to launch site.
Left center: Entrance to the launch site. The guard shack (not in photo) is to the left of the entrance.
Right center: Old light, located on the road to the launch site.
Far right: Approximately 300 feet past the gate on way to launch site.
The underground magazines are located beneath the piles of wood chips.
For more information about Nike Missile Base M-74, click here