Abstract
This dissertation explores the historic preservation and public memory of America’s Nike air defense missile program. To defend against nuclear attacks delivered by Soviet bombers in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s the United States constructed a massive air defense network, the largest peacetime dispersion of America’s military might into its communities. The 275 Nike sites built in 29 states are one highly representative example of these defenses and constitute the world’s first missile base network, predating not only all other air defense missile networks but also all offensive nuclear missile bases. Despite its tremendous significance, historic preservation and public memory of America’s Nike air defense missile system is extremely limited. The dominance of deterrence, lack of trauma associated with Nike sites, and difficulty fitting air defense into traditional narratives of the Cold War provide a poor foundation for public memory. While the many extant Nike sites vi generally retain their integrity, or ability to communicate their historical significance, numerous pitfalls hamper Nike preservation efforts, even the five Nike sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Considered in the context of a complex, contradictory Cold War, Nike sites are the quintessential Cold War site. Additionally, Nike sites highlight the way public memory and preservation fuel and feed off of each other. Given the current state of historic preservation and public memory of Nike sites, a three-pronged strategy of interpretation, focused preservation, and a series of markers is the best way to commemorate and educate Americans about the importance once assigned to air defense against nuclear weapons: a menace that continues to threaten our world.