Encino in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Nike Missile Site LA96C
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2018
1. Nike Site Marker
Formerly a Nike Missile control site, U.S. Army 1956-1968. Currently San Vicente Mountain Park, gateway to the Big Wild. Restricted entry, vehicles with handicapped permits only beyond this point. Welcome.
During the Cold War this was a military reservation. LA96C was one of 16 Nike missile sites that protected Los Angeles from a feared attack by Soviet bombers. It was an active battery from 1956-1968 with radar searching the sky for enemy airplanes. New military technology made the Nike missiles obsolete, and the site has been made into a park. Nature is reclaiming the military ruins.
Erected by Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Parks & Recreational Areas • War, Cold.
Location. 34° 7.727′ N, 118° 30.804′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Encino. It is on Mulholland Drive one mile west of Encino Hills Drive, on the left when traveling west. Located at San Vicente Mountain Park.
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Regionally, this marker is in California’s Transverse Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hammat Tiberias (approx. 2 miles away); Encino Oak Tree (approx. 2.2 miles away); Mulholland Drive Bridge (approx. 2.2 miles away); De La Osa Adobe (approx. 2.3 miles away); Adventures of Superman (approx. 3.3 miles away); Alpha Lambda Delta (approx. 3½ miles away); Gould LaFetra House (approx. 3.6 miles away); Stone Canyon Overlook (approx. 3.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.
More about this marker.
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2018
2. Nike Site Marker - Panel 2
Regarding Nike Missile Site LA96C. The Nike missiles had been upgraded with nuclear warheads by the time all of the sites closed in 1974. LA-96 closed in 1968 perhaps because the missiles were located near a residential community in Van Nuys.
Also see . . .
1. Nike Sites Around Los Angeles. Website of Fort MacArthur Museum in San Pedro has details of all local Nike sites. (Submitted on June 3, 2018.)
2. San Vicente Mountain Park. (Submitted on March 29, 2020.)
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2018
3. Nike Missile Site Entrance
Panel 1 is visible on the right and Panel 2 is on the left.
At top center is an abandoned Nike radar tower, as seen today on mountains all around the Los Angeles area.
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2018
4. Sentry Post
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2018
5. Nike Missile Site
Signs located at each area give details about the Nike site. Stairs allow visitors to access the top of the tower.
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2018
6. Site Map
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2018
7. Nike Missile Site
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2018
8. Nike Missile Site
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2018
9. Nike Missile Site
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2018
10. Nike Missile Site
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 9, 2018
11. Nike Missile Site
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2018
12. Nike Missile Site
Credits. This page was last revised on January 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 3, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 6,691 times since then and 450 times this year. Last updated on March 2, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 3, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 7, 8, 9. submitted on June 8, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 10, 11, 12. submitted on June 9, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
