Gallery: This Is Where Americans Planned to Spend the Nuclear Holocaust

  • Image may contain Wood Rug and Plywood
    Jeanine Michna-Bales
    01

    Emergency Phones | Presidential Seal

    President John F. Kennedy Atomic Bomb Shelter and Command Post; Peanut Island, FL.
  • Image may contain Indoors Room Bedroom Building and Housing
    Jeanine Michna-Bales
    02

    Incoming Telegram: DEFCON 3 Established | Bunk Beds and Lockers

    Declassified Department of State Report. President John F. Kennedy Atmoic Bomb Shelter and Command Post; Peanut Island, FL.
  • Image may contain Furniture Wood Plywood Indoors and Room
    Jeanine Michna-Bales
    03

    Kitchenette | Purj

    Private Shelter; Dallas, TX
  • Image may contain Banister Handrail and Staircase
    Jeanine Michna-Bales
    04

    Blast Door | Gas Mask

    Dallas Civil Defense Emergency Operations Center; Dallas, TX. Jacksonville Civil Defense Emergency Operations CEnter; Jacksonville, FL.
  • Image may contain Analog Clock Clock Building Tower Architecture and Clock Tower
    Jeanine Michna-Bales
    05

    Ham Radio | Telegram: ‘Act of War’

    Declassified CIA Information Report. President John F. Kennedy Atmoic Bomb Shelter and Command Post; Peanut Island, FL.
  • Image may contain Box Banister Handrail and Door
    Jeanine Michna-Bales
    06

    Fallout Shower | All Purpose Survival Crackers

    Dallas Civil Defense Emergency Operations Center; Dallas, TX. President John F. Kennedy Atmoic Bomb Shelter and Command Post; Peanut Island, FL.
  • Image may contain Wood Furniture Flooring Room Indoors Floor Living Room Chair Hardwood and Plywood
    Jeanine Michna-Bales
    07

    Sleeping Cots and Chair | Home Fallout Shelter Ad

    Private Shelter; Dallas, TX.
  • Image may contain Shelf Furniture Wood and Bookcase
    Jeanine Michna-Bales
    08

    Mezzanine Ladder | Pantry

    AT&T Underground Coaxial Cable Station; Ft. Pierce, FL.
  • Image may contain Staircase Building and Bunker
    Jeanine Michna-Bales
    09

    Entrance | Folding Ladder

    Private Shelter; Dallas, TX.
  • Image may contain Text Wood Clothing and Apparel
    Jeanine Michna-Bales
    10

    Engine Room | Nuclear Radiation

    Dallas Civil Defense Emergency Operations Center; Dallas, TX. Graph from ‘Theoretical Consquences of a Hypothetical Nuclear Bombing of the Dallas-Ft. Worth Area, 1963.’
  • Image may contain Mailbox and Letterbox
    Jeanine Michna-Bales
    11

    Breaker Box | Alarm Control Panel

    AT&T Underground Coaxial Cable Station; Ft. Pierce, FL.
  • Image may contain Machine
    Jeanine Michna-Bales
    12

    Civil Defense Communicator

    Jacksonville Civil Defense Emergency Operations Center; Jacksonville, FL.
  • Image may contain Furniture Chair Blackboard Indoors Flooring and Corridor
    Jeanine Michna-Bales
    13

    Sector Boards

    Dallas Civil Defense Emergency Operations Center; Dallas, TX.
  • Image may contain Staircase Banister Handrail and Corridor
    Jeanine Michna-Bales
    14

    Entrance Stairs | Hallway

    Dallas Civil Defense Emergency Operations Center; Dallas, TX.
  • Image may contain Flooring Floor Corridor Indoors Room Building and Lobby
    Jeanine Michna-Bales
    15

    Switching Room

    AT&T Underground Coaxial Cable Station; Ft. Pierce, FL.
  • Image may contain Sewer and Drain
    Jeanine Michna-Bales
    16

    Fallout Exposure Calculator

    Dallas Civil Defense Emergency Operations Center; Dallas, TX. Graph from ‘Theoretical Consquences of a Hypothetical Nuclear Bombing of the Dallas-Ft. Worth Area, 1963.’
Read More
What’s Worse Than Romance Scams? Adoption Scams
This week in WIRED Book Club, we recap the final chapters of The Yahoo Boys.
Kate Knibbs
Beatbot’s New Pool Robot Cleans Itself (Mostly)
The AquaSense X brings self-cleaning technology to pool robots for the first time, but is it worth nearly twice the price of Beatbot’s flagship cleaner?
Christopher Null
Skylight’s Touchscreen Calendar Got my Whole Family on the Same Page
The Skylight has become the informational and organizational hub of my household. My touchscreen-native kids have also gained more agency over our family activities.
Jaclyn Greenberg
The Samsung Micro RGB R95H Is a Good, Not Great TV
There’s a new fleet of TVs using new mini and micro RBG display tech, and Samsung’s R95H model isn’t as impressive as it should be.
John Brandon
AI Found a Root Bug in Linux That Everyone Missed for 15 Years
Plus: The Pentagon is training amateurs to become part of its hacker army, a Flock license plate reader error led to cops surrounding a car reviewer, and more.
Dell Cameron
We Make Lovely Home-Cooked Meals for Ourselves. Why Not Do the Same for Our Dogs?
More dog owners have begun cooking for their canine companions in recent years. When my own dog fell ill, I became part of this growing group.
Alicia Kennedy
The Best Hiking Boots and Shoes for Any Adventure
From strenuous hikes and serious summits to weekend rambles in the park, these boots help you make the most of your time outdoors.
Chris Haslam
China’s Tianwen-2 Space Probe Has Rendezvoused With Earth’s Quasi-Moon
The probe sent back the first pictures of the asteroid Kamo’oalewa. Next step: landing on the surface and collecting samples to send back to Earth.
Ritsuko Kawai
El Niño Is Already Wreaking Havoc on Pacific Fisheries
As the climate phenomenon sends warm water surging across the eastern Pacific, some parts of the fishing industry are suffering—but other regions are seeing a windfall.
Joseph Winters
Exclusive: How Jay-Z Pulled Off a Surprise-Filled Show During New York’s Wildest Summer
Summer 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Jay-Z’s debut Reasonable Doubt. To honor it, he put on a massive concert at Yankee Stadium—complete with performances from Beyoncé, Nas, and Alicia Keys.
Angela Watercutter
OpenAI’s Head of Safety Is Leaving the Company
Johannes Heidecke’s departure comes as OpenAI tries to further integrate its research and safety teams.
Maxwell Zeff
Microsoft Reports a Massive 25 Percent Jump in Emissions
Data centers are driving up the company’s use of electricity—and carbon pollution.
Molly Taft