Nike Missile Minneapolis-St. Paul Defense Area
In operation from 1959 until 1971, the following four Nike Hercules batteries guarded the approaches to the Twin Cities: (MS-20) Roberts, (MS-40) Farmington, (MS- 70) Bonifacius, and (MS-90) Bethel/Issanti.
The Chicago District of the Corps of Engineers oversaw construction of these sites. The four batteries were manned by Regular Army units. The Birdie command and control facility, located at Snelling Air Force Station, provided target designation information to the batteries. Headquarters facilities were also located at Snelling.