Historic Nike missile site in California vandalized with hate speech, rangers say

Someone broke into a historic Nike missile defense site outside San Francisco, leaving extensive damage, National Park Service rangers said.

The vandal or vandals spray-painted hate speech and dumped gallons of hazardous chemicals inside the Cold War-era facility, rangers said in a March 25 news release.

The vandalism took place at the site in the Marin Headlands opposite San Francisco sometime between Saturday, March 15, and early Wednesday, March 19, rangers said.

The person or people may have suffered chemical burns requiring medical care, rangers said.

They are especially interested in any videos or photos taken in the area during the time in question.

Rangers ask anyone with information to call the NPS tip line at 888-653-0009.

Nearly 300 Nike missile sites were built across the United States from 1953 to 1979, rangers said. The sites were intended to shoot down enemy bombers carrying atomic weapons.

The facility in the Marin Headlands is one of the most fully restored sites in the nation, rangers said. It is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

This story was originally published March 27, 2025 at 2:17 PM with the headline "Historic Nike missile site in California vandalized with hate speech, rangers say."