Cold War Kids

Abo Elementary School in Artesia, New Mexico, stands as a unique relic of Cold War anxiety, having been constructed in 1962 as a fully underground nuclear fallout shelter. Designed to protect students and local residents, the facility featured blast doors, decontamination showers, and independent life-support systems. While the school served as a pilot program for civil defense, it also highlights the intense societal debate of the era regarding the morality and efficacy of public shelters. Many viewed these structures as essential survival tools, while critics argued they militarized society and fostered a culture of fear. Today, the school serves as a storage facility and a training site for active shooter drills, illustrating a shift from protecting children against nuclear threats to preparing for modern-day domestic violence.