Montana Perimeter Acquisition Radar Site - Page 2

In a number of photographs the author has taken of the PAR building, many of those photos (as this photo depicts in the upper center) capture one or more barn swallows in mid flight. An added bonus of visiting the Montana PAR, is that 100s of barn swallows have built nests up under the door frames. As you are walking on the ground level, or up on top of the second level, dozens of barn swallows are flying around singing their hearts out. It seems they are truly happy and content.

It is quite a stark contrast taking in all of these barn swallows flying around so care free and seemingly happy with their permanent home, when you then realize what this building was originally designed and built for.

As was stated on the former page, the door frames on the south facing wall are so impressive. One takes away from taking in the intensity of these door frames, that the architects wanted to assure this building could survive a serious blast, if one ever occurred, by constructing door frames on steroids.

In the photo above, (of the door frame), note the pock marks on the wall just to the right of the door frame. Each and every one of those pock marks were created by someone firing a rifle, pistol or revolver at the wall. This author knows a number of individuals in Montana who have used a firearm, and are fully aware of a dangerous concept called ricochet. It is quite apparent that there are yet a number of individuals in Montana who are oblivious of the science pertaining to physics.

As you explore this entire PAR site, it is absolutely incredible taking in the number of gunshots this structure has sustained throughout the years.

Some of these columns have the most interesting features built into them. Such as this column in the middle, (in the photo above - marked with the graffitti "Moon") where an indentation was created when the concrete was poured. There are holes that appear to be built in, with electrical conduit installed in the column, to allow wiring to be pulled through. It was apparent that there would have been some type of mechanism installed on that column, a switch, a telephone, who knows? Quite intriguing. Throughout the PAR site one will find these types of features, which would invoke numerous questions. This makes exploring the Perimeter Acquisition Radar site that much more enjoyable.

Take a look at the "PAR Video 959" video below, for close up video footage of this column.

Gaining access to the second level requires one to take the stairs in the south east corner up to this access opening. It appears that someone with a ladder and a lot of time on their hands, got up onto the second level and with a large hammer and chisel, created this access opening.

This reservoir was originally built to supply water to cool the electrical power plant that would have sat to the west of the PAR site building.

In the image above, one can see the yellow grease pencil markings "MAG OK 5-2-72 CE-WEI." The United States had originally planned to build two Safeguard Complexes. One in North Dakota and the second in Montana. In May 1972 Congress opted to stop construction on the Montana Perimeter Acquisition Radar and Missile Site Radar buildings. This grease pencil marking looks just as fresh as it was taken in this photo in 2014, then it was when this author first looked at it in 2007.

These markings have been there for 44 years.

The author did not notice the second grease pencil marking, that is lower and to the left, until the 2014 visit. This marking reads "MAG OK 5-2-72 CE" This author is concerned that with time, someone is going to paint graffitti over these historical markings.

Below you will find a number of videos this author took while visiting the Montana PAR site in 2009 and 2014. With both visits, the author was so excited to get out and visit this site, the author did not get very much sleep the night before. The author is taking risks when trying to walk and chew gum at the same time. It is evident that when filming a video of the PAR site, and adding commentary at the same time, proved to be a challenge cognitively for the author.

In a number of videos you will encounter the author starting to make a statement in providing commentary on what was being filmed, and stopping before finishing the statement. Getting tongue tied occurs often in some videos. In summary, no drugs were involved in the filming of these videos, and no animals were harmed.

Be aware that some of the videos listed below that were taken in 2014 have a few scenes where the wind was making for horrible audio. Make sure your volume is set low, in preparation for these moments. The author, in his excitement to get out to the site and explore, neglected to set the recording features on the video camera to compensate for wind noise. My apologies.