"The last frontier". "The land of midnight sun". "The last state to deactivate the Nikes". Alaska was the guardian of the sky, protecting our most vulnerable northwestern region of the 49 states. Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska were the two locations where our air defense faced off the Soviets each day only minutes away. Fairbanks with it's 5 Nike batteries and Anchorage with it's 3 Nike batteries formed a "ring of steel" constantly observing and keeping the enemy at bay. One of those sites was the last to be deactivated in the 50 states. That site was "Site Summit".
Site Summit is the last intact Nike Hercules Missile installation in Alaska. Activated in 1959, it was the last to be deactivated in 1979 although it's missiles and electronics have been removed, it is still standing tall.
This former "guardian of the sky" is located in the rugged, mile high Chugach Mountains, overlooking the City of Anchorage. Built during the Cold War, Site Summit reminds us of Alaska's military defensive role and how the Army was prepared to defend Fort Richardson, Elmendorf Air Force Base and Anchorage from enemy attack.