North Dakota’s Cold War Pyramid: A Costly Defense That Lasted Just Months
Tucked away in the remote plains of North Dakota, a massive concrete pyramid stands as a relic of Cold War history. The Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex, operational for only six months in the 1970s, was a $32 billion missile defense system designed to intercept Soviet nuclear weapons. Though short-lived, it played a pivotal role in advancing arms control agreements that helped ease Cold War tensions.