TUSCON, ARIZONA FEBRUARY 18, 2014

Visiting the Titan Missile Museum south of Tucson. This missile was one of many around the country (50+) that served as a deterrent against Soviet aggression during the cold war era.  Now a few of these sites have been disarmed and turned into museums and the rest have been destroyed. 

Info about the Titan II (click once on picture to enlarge).

Going underground and entering through the blast door.

Gary at the control panel (YIKES!)  ready to turn the key.  When the missile was armed there were only two people in this room at any time to launch the missile if the launch code was ordered.  This never happened.

Gary with the card that says he turned the key...which never happened in real life.

Looking down on the disarmed missile silo. 

Change of pace...we visited the Mission San Xavier del Bac later that day. This is an active Franciscan mission located on the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation.  This mission has been dubbed the "Sistine Chapel of North America".  The pristine exterior and intricate interior have undergone careful restoration.

The beautiful interior of the mission.

Later that day Gary drove b y the "Boneyard".  Although this picture does not capture the immense proportions of the yard there are thousands of decommissioned aircraft from all branches of the armed services.  To really appreciate it I guess you had to be there.