Nike Missile Battery NY-56, Fort Hancock, New Jersey. Introduction. By Donald E. Bender

| NIKE MISSILE BATTERY NY-56 | FORT HANCOCK, NEW JERSEY |

Welcome to historic Nike missile battery NY-56!

Historic Nike missile battery NY-56 at Fort Hancock, Sandy Hook, New Jersey, was an important part of the Cold War air defenses of northeastern New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area. Its supersonic, radar guided Nike missiles were deployed as a defense against Soviet long range bomber aircraft from 1953 through 1974. The most intact former Nike missile installation in the region, the former Army installation is administered by the U.S. National Park Service.

This Web site presents information and images covering the history of the Fort Hancock Nike missile site, its present status and options for its future restoration. Only a limited amount of information is available at this time. More will follow during the weeks and months ahead. Follow the links below for additional information.

To contact the author, please click here to send e-mail to Don Bender at [email protected]

History
This section presents historical information and images of Nike missile battery NY-56 over its roughly two decades of operation.

Nike Missile Battery NY-56 Today
Contains information and a virtual site tour of the Fort Hancock Nike missile site as it stands today. This section will be available in the future.

Historic Preservation
Future options for preserving the Fort Hancock Nike missile site, information about becoming a volunteer are found here. This section is presently under construction.

Guide for Educators
What is the historical significance of Nike missile site NY-56? How does it fit into the recent past of New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area as a whole? This section contains information for educators interested in informing their students about our recent Cold War past and the role played by the Fort Hancock Nike site during that era. Please visit again when this section is available or contact the author for additional information.

Media Information
Need information for a story about the Fort Hancock Nike missile site, Nike missiles and missile sites in general, the Cold War air defenses of New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area, or the Cold War era as a whole? Contact Don Bender via e-mail at [email protected] or call (973) 535-8362.

Additional media information will be placed online in the future, via this link and via a link from the home page. Please visit again!

News and Information
Information about site tours, lectures and more will be available via this link in the near future.

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Original photo by Bob Singleton. Enhanced image by D. E. Bender.

SITE CURATOR: DONALD E. BENDER
E-Mail: [email protected]