January 25, 2015 - March 15, 2015
Venue: Stauth Memorial Museum
Address: 111 N Aztec St, Montezuma, KS 67867
Time: Tue-Sat 9:00-12:00, 1:00-4:30, Sun 1:30-4:30. Closed Mondays & major holidays.
Admission: Admission is free, but donations are greatly appreciated.
Contact: Kim Legleiter
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This exhibit explores the ways that Americans experienced the atomic threat as part of their daily lives. Curated by Michael Scheibach and ExhibitsUSA, the show features more than 75 original objects from the era. Americans were flooded with messages about the dangers of atomic weapons and attack from foreign powers through pamphlets, household objects, media and film. Although the threat of atomic annihilation eventually drifted to the background of American consciousness in the late 1960s, the Atomic Age left a legacy of governmental response and civic infrastructure that remains relevant today. The exhibition presents a timeline and overview of the story, explaining the three main chronological phases of America’s Atomic Age. The Blast, 1945–1950, Under the Mushroom Cloud, 1951–1956 and Nuclear Fallout, 1957–1965. The exhibition encourages audiences to explore four spheres of daily life and learn how civic, commercial, and government agencies targeted different groups with different kinds of media and messages. Taken together, these four thematic areas—at home, at school, in the community, and at play—show how thoroughly the messages permeated every aspect of society. Toured by ExhibitsUSA, a National Program of Mid-America Arts Alliance. www.eusa.org