NIKE Missile Base SL-40, Underground Storage Magazines & Launcher-Loader Assemblies, Southwesternmost end of launch area, Hecker, Monroe County, IL

Significance: The underground storage magazines and launcher-loader assemblies are where Nike missiles were stored and kept ready for launching at the Nike Missile Base SL-40. These underground structures contained a room for storing the Nike missiles, an elevator to carry the missiles to the surface for firing. There were four launchers built on top of the underground magazines. These structures were built in 1958 from standardized drawings approved by the Corps of Engineers, which were designed by the firm of Seelye, Stevenson, Value and Knecht of New York City. Nike buildings were considered modified emergency buildings. Originally, there were to be pre-fabricated structures, but were rather unsightly and did not contribute to troop morale and, therefore, were changed to modified emergency design.
Survey number: HAER IL-117-Z