Black and white photograph of a Red Cross booth ("Let the Spirit of America Equal the Spirit of Belgium") at the 1917 Minnesota State Fair.

Red Cross booth at 1917 Minnesota State Fair

Red Cross booth ("Let the Spirit of America Equal the Spirit of Belgium") at the 1917 Minnesota State Fair.

Minnesota State Fair, 1917

Since its founding in 1859, the Minnesota State Fair had been an essential yearly tradition in the agricultural state. However, after the United States entered World War I in 1917, the fair took on an entirely new significance. Organizers reframed the event as a “Food Training Camp” that showed Minnesotans how to produce and conserve resources vital to the Allied war effort.

Color image of a fallout shelter water storage can, c.1950s.

Fallout shelter water storage can

Fallout shelter water storage can, c.1950s.

Color image of an emergency preparedness kit assembled by a family in Minnetonka.

Emergency preparedness kit

Emergency preparedness kit assembled by a family in Minnetonka, c.1960s.

Black and white photograph of people stocking fallout shelter at St. Casimir’s School, St. Paul, 1962.

St. Casimir’s School fallout shelter

Stocking fallout shelter at St. Casimir’s School, St. Paul, 1962.

Black and white photograph of civil defense instructor training, 1962.

Civil defense instructor training

Civil defense instructor training, 1962.

Black and white photograph of the Gerlach family at their home during a civil defense drill,1956.

Gerlach family civil defense drill

The Gerlach family at their home during a civil defense drill,1956. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Gerlach are shown with their children Margaret (age 15), Steve (age 13), Monica (age 11) and Barbara (age 8).

Black and white photograph of women with civil defense home first aid kit display, 1954.

First aid kit display

Women with civil defense home first aid kit display, 1954.

Black and white photograph of a family civil defense drill, 1953.

Family civil defense drill

Family civil defense drill, 1953.

Civil Defense in Minnesota, 1950–1974

During the extended Cold War standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union, many Minnesotans prepared for the terrifying possibility of nuclear war by participating in a variety of civil defense efforts. The civil defense strategies employed in Minnesota changed significantly as the perceived military threat evolved.

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