This was our third trip to Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota but our first opportunity to officially tour the base. The previous times, in October and January were not during tourist season and the tours were not offered.
So we got up and headed over to the South Dakota Air and Space Museum, paid our money and got on the tour bus. When you sign in you have to show your ID and put your driver's license info on the paper so that they can run a check. Even Nick had to and he lives there. Everyone boarded the bus and we headed to the gate. Our tour guide passed our info through the window to be processed, everyone passed and we were on our way.
We passed various places such as the automotive center, base housing etc. It was kind of funny because a lot of what was being pointed out were the same things we had pointed out to my parents when we first arrived at the base.
The main focus of the bus tour was the missile silo. We arrived there and learned more about it and the function of the base.
One of the first things you see at the missile silo is the transporter/erector.
Here is the site entrance.
We of course entered the silo from a different entrance.
Here's the missile silo entrance from inside.
More things you see inside the missile silo.
Minute Man II
I just dig the retro label maker.
After we had explored the missile silo we headed back to the museum.
They have some old license plates on display.
A pillow that apparently was a gift.
After we had looked around a bit we then headed to Thunderhead Falls.
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