Small Town, Big Missile

In a land of open fields and apple pie, Southeast Nebraska seemed calm and routine. But in 1958 construction began on a project that was quite the opposite–giant underground bunkers holding long-range Atlas missiles for U.S. defense during the Cold War. In the Summer 2012 issue of Nebraska History, Nicholas Batter reveals the fascinating role Nebraskans played in the arms race.

Although small town Nebraska seemed far from the conflict, nuclear war makes front lines of the whole world. On top of that, proximity to Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Offutt Air Force Base made eastern Nebraska sites ideal. Were the Soviets to attack, SAC would coordinate retaliatory strikes immediately.

Workers prepare an Atlas missile for a suborbital test launch at Cape Canaveral, Florida, on September, 17, 1959.

Starting in 1958, nuclear-armed Atlas missiles were assigned to several U.S. Air Force Bases, including Offutt and Lincoln AFBs in Nebraska. The year 1958 saw a serious economic recession in the United States. Tens of thousands were unemployed in Nebraska, and the lack of work meant a warm welcome for the government project. Thousands of workers were required to keep construction of the massive missile bases on schedule. Even with long hours and extended work weeks, workers from surrounding neighborhoods were brought in to help with the project.

In Saunders County, the missiles soon meant more than jobs for the towns of Mead and Wahoo. They came to mean patriotism, protecting one’s country, and the opportunities of a new age. The county fair that summer had numerous parade floats featuring homemade rockets.

Local support for the project was so great that when out-of-town peace protesters arrived in 1959, local residents rallied against them. The pacifists called themselves “Omaha Action,” and set up a camp outside Mead’s missile base. Their signs boasted phrases such as “End the Missile Race, Let Mankind Live” and “Omaha Action Nonviolence Against Nuclear Missile Policy.” Newspapers described the protestors as “educated, quiet, [and] sincere about [the] project.”

One of the activist leaders wrote: “we believed that contrasting our belief in nonviolent resistance with SAC’s belief in military force and nuclear deterrence would be dramatic and thought-provoking.”

Dramatic was an understatement. The local people saw the group’s very presence as an attack on their livelihood and patriotic spirit, and responded harshly with newspaper articles and counter-protests. Omaha Action members were arrested for acts of civil disobedience and often treated worse than other prisoners while in jail. And ironically, by trying to stop the missile base, the protestors only seemed to have the effect of increasing local support for the base as the community rallied around it and viewed it as their contribution to the Cold War.

Fortunately, the Atlas missiles were never launched. Several years later, a new generation of missiles replaced the Atlas, leaving the giant underground silos empty. Southeast Nebraska’s participation in the Cold War faded from memory as western Nebraska became known for its Minuteman missile sites. However, the Atlas project provided communities with an economic boost, brought about America’s first generation of missiles, and in hindsight teaches us about the concerns and attitudes of the Cold War.

-Joy Carey, Editorial Assistant

 

Read Nick Batter’s complete article, “The Shoulders of Atlas: Rural Communities and Nuclear Missile Base Construction in Nebraska, 1958-1962” (PDF)

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

Frontier Soldiers and Their Tiniest Enemy

Frontier Soldiers and Their Tiniest Enemy

NSHS Employees Recognized for Excellence in Leadership

NSHS Employees Recognized for Excellence in Leadership

Marker Monday: Susan La Flesche Picotte Memorial Hospital

Marker Monday: Susan La Flesche Picotte Memorial Hospital

About NSHS

The Nebraska State Historical Society was founded in 1878 by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed NSHS from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director Cindy Drake. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for NSHS.

Explore Nebraska

Discover the real places and people of our past at these NSHS sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of NSHS members.

NSHS Education

Learn more about the educational programs provided at our museums, sites, and online.

Education Digital Learning Resources

Find games, lists, and more to enhance your history education curriculum.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast!

Nebraska Collections

NSHS's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

NSHS's Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

NSHS Services

Digital Resources

Find all of our digital resources, files, videos, and more, all in one easy-to-search page!

Support The Historical Society

Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to the Nebraska State Historical Society help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of NSHS.

Volunteers are the heroes of NSHS. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.