It’s finally summer and for at least some of us that means it’s a chance to get away. Why not jump start your adventures with a Cold War roadtrip? From missile sites and atomic tourism to the hippie trail, here are five ideas, three in the United States and two abroad. The Minuteman Missile National Historic Site During the Cold War, a vast arsenal of nuclear missiles … [Read more...] about It’s Time For A Cold War Roadtrip: Let’s Go
Chile: Stadium as Prison
The 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by North America will soon be just a fleeting memory, but concrete reminders of the event will remain, dotting the landscapes of Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The Stadiums In an interesting factoid, no new stadiums were built specifically for the 2026 games. Instead, the 2026 tournament relied overwhelmingly on existing stadiums. North … [Read more...] about Chile: Stadium as Prison
Cold War Spying Year by Year: 1962
1962 was one of the most dangerous years of the Cold War, and espionage was central to almost every major international crisis. Intelligence agencies were not simply gathering information—they were shaping policy, conducting sabotage, running double agents, stealing technology, and preparing for nuclear war. Here are some of the year’s major events. The Cuban Missile … [Read more...] about Cold War Spying Year by Year: 1962
The Secret World Cup: Argentina 1978
The story of Argentina 1978 is not simply a soccer story. It’s also a political story about how authoritarian governments use sports to shape international opinion, project legitimacy, and distract from uncomfortable realities. From 1976 to 1983, Argentina was ruled by a military junta led by Jorge Rafael Videla. During this period, known as the "Dirty War," thousands of … [Read more...] about The Secret World Cup: Argentina 1978
The Cold War on the Frontier: How Early Cold War Westerns Taught and Questioned American Values
I recently came across a photograph of children in the 1950s wearing cowboy hats and carrying toy six-shooters. It reminded me that, for millions of Americans, Western heroes like Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy, and The Lone Ranger were once as familiar as superheroes are now. Today, streaming and cable ratings underscore the popularity of cowboys and the American … [Read more...] about The Cold War on the Frontier: How Early Cold War Westerns Taught and Questioned American Values
