Cold War to the Cosmos: Distant Early Warning Systems and the Arctic

On view April 4, 2025 through Sept. 7, 2026
Third Floor, West Wing

Cold War to the Cosmos: Distant Early Warning Systems and the Arctic examines the strategic significance of the Arctic during the Cold War, a period defined by intense rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. This atomic age saw the two nations rapidly advance their nuclear programs and exert influence around the world.

The Cold War had a broad impact on American society, the physical landscape, and the national desire to control and even militarize outer space. American politics, art, and culture also reflected the specter of global communism and fears of nuclear war and everything from Abstract Expressionism to Jazz were enlisted for propaganda.

Today’s global conflicts recall the heightened tensions and military brinkmanship of the Cold War. Competing political and religious philosophies, climate change, and a new space race to Mars prompt us to again consider the Cold War's legacy and Buckminster Fuller’s vision of "Spaceship Earth," where shared responsibility and collaboration are key to addressing contemporary issues and ensuring a sustainable future for all.