Lorton in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Lorton Nike Missile Site
Photographed By J. J. Prats, March 26, 2006
1. Lorton Nike Missile Site Marker
Inscription.
Lorton Nike Missile Site. . 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.
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. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lorton VA 22079, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Additional commentary. 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.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, March 26, 2006
2. Lorton Nike Missile Site Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 26, 2019. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2006, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 10,108 times since then and 229 times this year. Last updated on March 24, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos:1, 2. submitted on March 26, 2006, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
