Lorton Nike Missile Site Marker

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Lorton in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Lorton Nike Missile Site

By J. J. Prats, March 26, 2006

1. Lorton Nike Missile Site Marker

Inscription. Located north of here was one of three Nike anti-aircraft missile complexes in Fairfax County operated by the U.S. Army and the Army National Guard between 1954 and 1974. The sites were established during the Cold War to defend Washington from Soviet air attack. This complex, along with those at Great Falls and Fairfax, was among thirteen Nike sites that surrounded Washington and Baltimore. The ring of Nike sites was reminiscent of the perimeter of forts that protected the capital during the Civil War. This was the only Nike complex in Fairfax County containing missiles armed with nuclear warheads. It served as a model site for visits by foreign dignitaries.

Erected 1994 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number E 97.)

Location. 38° 42.393′ N, 77° 15.119′ W. Marker is in Lorton, Virginia, in Fairfax County. Marker is on Furnace Road (County Route 611) 0.4 miles west of Lorton Road (County Route 642), on the left when traveling west. Click for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lorton VA 22079, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Occoquan Workhouse (approx. 0.6 miles away); Evolution of a Landscape – Plantation, Prison, Park (approx. 0.7 miles away); Occoquan River Bridges (approx. 1.5 miles away); Town of Occoquan (approx. 1.5 miles away); Occoquan (approx. 1.6 miles away); Historic Occoquan - Center for the Processing of Grain (approx. 1.6 miles away); The Dogue Indians (approx. 1.6 miles away); Ellicott’s Mill (approx. 1.6 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Lorton.

By J. J. Prats, March 26, 2006

2. Lorton Nike Missile Site Marker

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. A Concise Historical Overview of the Nike Missile System. Web page by Donald E. Bender. (Submitted on March 26, 2006.)
2. National Cold War Museum. Planned at the Lorton site. (Submitted on July 3, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
3. Areal View of Lorton Control Facility. (Submitted on July 11, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
4. Historic Context of the Nike Missile Site. (Submitted on September 4, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)

Additional comments.
1. National Site
The Lorton site was often called the “National Site” and used to demonstrate the Nike system to domestic and foreign dignitaries. The official site ID was W-64. The actual control facility and launchers were used for a time as a maximum security prison. (Reference: “Rings of Supersonic Steel” by Mark L. Morgan and Mark A. Berhaw.)

— Submitted July 3, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.

Credits. This page originally submitted on March 26, 2006, by J. J. Prats of Springfield, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,793 times since then. Last updated on August 15, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. Submitted on March 26, 2006, by J. J. Prats of Springfield, Virginia.