White Sands Proving Grounds was established in July 1945. It combined the existing ORDCIT Firing Ranges, the Alamogordo Bombing Range, and large tracts of both private and public lands. Even today, the range is speckled with the abandoned ranch houses and windmills of a bygone era. There are also several old abandoned silver and gold mines near the Gap Site of the Sierra Oscura.
White Sands Proving Grounds was later renamed to White Sands Missile Range, or WSMR (pronounced "Whiz-Mer" by nearby residents). The range occupies a somewhat rectangular strip of land, some 40 miles wide (east-west) and 100 miles long (north-south). It is the largest military installation in the United States. This strip of New Mexico desert has been in use since the 40's to test practically every weapon system in the U.S. military arsenal. Pioneering research in rocket technology shortly after World War II at WSMR helped propel the U.S. into space. Because of this, WSMR is sometimes known as the "Birthplace of the Race to Space".
Main
phone numbers: Commercial (505)678-2121 or
DSN 258-2121
Mailing
address: Commander, U.S. Army White Sands
Missile Range, NM 88002-5018
Population:
300 active duty; 1,637 family members; 3,640
civilians
Housing: 168
officer family units; 543 enlisted family units; 125
unaccompanied personnel units (505)678-5110
Temporary
lodging: 43-unit transient lodging;
six-unit guest house (505)678-4559
Family
Support Center: (505)678-6767
Schools: Elementary
and middle school on base run by Las Cruces School
District
Child
Care: Center for 244; five approved homes
(505)678-2059
Health
care: Clinic. Appointments/Tricare
(505)678-0300; benefits (915)569-2543
White Sands Missile Range - New Mexico
has a medium size commissary - (505)678-2313,
a medium exchange, and one shoppette (505)678-2072. Recreation at White Sands Missile Range - New Mexico
includes arts and crafts, bowling, library, auto hobby,
recreation center, golf, gym, tennis, swimming, outdoor
activities, camping, fishing, and stables.
