While most people understand the Cold War as a lived experience, they often consider it to have resulted from events that had occurred in some other space and time. The birth of the Atomic Age and the beginning of the Cold War occur almost simultaneously, before the end of World War II, and its effects continue beyond the fall of the Berlin Wall. 

        Using the City of Los Angeles, "Cold War: L.A." investigates the themes of the enduring “physical” and “imaginary” legacy of the Cold War, and its inconspicuous inscription into both the landscape and the politics of the historical present. Utilizing physical remnants such as missile sites, architecture and sirens, the website looks at elements of a constructed history that continue to contribute to the shaping of present personal and national narratives. Through the examination of events, research, media depictions, and civilian and veteran memories, this project highlights a more comprehensive history of the Cold War period in the United States.
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Did you know that there were over 16 missile launch sites that surrounded Los Angeles? Take a look at our map to find out where they are and their current status. Even take one of our History Hikes!
Discover Cold War and Atomic popular culture  events that took place across and around Los Angeles between the 1940s and 1980s.

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