Pima County adds Titan Missile Museum to attractions portfolio

Pima County adds Titan Missile Museum to attractions portfolio

PIMA COUNTY, May 23, 2024 – The Pima County Board of Supervisors at its May 21 meeting voted unanimously to approve an operating agreement between Pima County and the Arizona Aerospace Foundation (AAF) for the Titan Missile Museum located in Sahuarita. The operating agreement between Pima County and AAF is the final step toward Pima County becoming the official owners of the Titan Missile Museum, a process that began in November 2022.

“Pima County Real Property Services worked alongside the General Services Administration, Attractions and Tourism, and the Office of Conservation and Sustainability, now known as Conservation Lands & Resources, for over two years to acquire the National Historic Monument known as the Titan Missile Museum,” said Aaron Mergenthal, property management supervisor for Pima County’s Real Property Services. “It was a team lift, and the outcome will be continued oversight of the museum by our current operator, the Arizona Aerospace Foundation, which is wonderful as they have done an amazing job maintaining the integrity of the site for many years.”

The Titan Missile Museum is the only remaining site that is open to the public out of 54 Titan II missile sites that were part of a network on the front lines of the Cold War from 1963 to 1987. All 54 Titan II sites were capable of launching a nine-megaton thermonuclear warhead in 58 seconds.

The Sahuarita site, officially known as Complex 571-7, was taken off alert in 1982 and work began to turn the missile site into a museum in 1983. In 1985, the United States Air Force and Pima County finalized an agreement that would allow the County to lease the property from the Air Force and the AAF would operate the museum. The museum officially opened its doors on May 21, 1986.

“Pima County is thrilled to officially welcome the Titan Missile Museum into its family of attractions through this land acquisition from the Unites States Air Force,” said Diane Frisch, director of Pima County’s Attractions & Tourism Department. “The site is not only a National Historic Landmark, but also the only remaining Titan II missile site that is open to the public, transporting visitors to a time when the threat of nuclear war was a reality during the Cold War.”

Titan Missile Museum was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1994, officially recognizing the role that the Titan II sites played in American history. Additionally, the museum is one of only two Intercontinental Ballistic Missile sites in the entire world that is dedicated to educating the public.

“The museum’s historical significance and the intrigue of touring a missile silo draws visitors from all over and is important to preserve,” said Frisch.

Additional information can be found at https://titanmissilemuseum.org/