3/13 White Sands Missile Range Museum

I had a terrible drive to my next stop in Alamogordo, NM,  Winds were bad and hitting my motorhome from the side.  In high winds, driving a motorhome is a lot like driving a billboard--a gust of wind can hit you and move you over a couple of feet, so you have to keep a tight grip on the steering wheel and be ready to react.  I knew that the winds were expected to get worse and that they were a little less as you headed north, which is the way I was headed, so I got an early start.  Or at least an early start for me.  

After a stressful couple of hours, I was ready for a stop but could not find any rest areas.  However, I saw a sign for the White Sands Missile Range Museum, about 60 miles south of my destination, so I pulled over and took the exit. 

I almost turned around because there were so many warning signs about entering a secured military base.  It was a bit scary, so I pulled over and made a phone call to the museum to make sure it was open and also open to the public.  They gave me instructions to park in the dirt lot just before the visitor's check-in lot, and then walk to the security building to show ID and get a visitor pass.  That only took a couple of minutes, but then I had to walk back to my rig to get my camera as I had not realized I would be leaving my motorhome there and walking across the street to the museum.  

Below is the security gate to the military base.  The arched thing to the right is a device that can x-ray vehicles if needed.   

 

It was quite a hike for my old body, but I made it.  Walked through the outdoor display before finding the museum itself a little farther away.  They seemed to have one of everything, but I stopped and read the signs on only the more interesting ones.  Below are some photos of this display. 

 

 

This is one of the rocket sleds they used to test rocket components and eventually even astronauts.  

 

 

This sign pertains to the tall rocket below it. 

The museum itself was just past the field of rockets!

 

 

The museum started off with some of the history of this area.  

 

 

 Just a reminder that Mexico once owned much of the United States!!

The rest of the museum was a large collection of the history of the missile range.

First nuclear bomb dropped here. 

Some drones.

An analog control panel!!  (Not a real person, by the way.)

They have saved the podium used by JFK during a visit to the missile range. 

In a separate building, across the parking lot, is one of the original V10 missiles developed by the Germans and modified by Werner Braun and the U.S. military as part of the space program. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This turned out to be an interesting and worthwhile stop.  You do need to know, however, that you have to have either a passport or a "Real ID" driver's license to enter.  Children under a certain age do not need ID.