In 2019, White Sands National Park/Monument recorded 608,785 visitors. Dismiss. 115 sq. mi = 185 sq. km = 73,600 acres. Park Statistics - White Sands National Park (U.S. National Park Service) White Sands Missile Range, north and west of Tularosa, was founded in 1945 to support research, development, testing, and evaluation of weapons and space systems. It covers 2.2 million acres (8903 sq. km), and is the largest installation of its kind in the western hemisphere. WHSA Air Force Base, east of Holloman, was also established in response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. The base has been actively engaged in military defense readiness and development throughout WW II and during the Cold War.