August 4, 2022
By Landry Brewer
The Heartland of America Museum is reminding the public of a time when western Oklahomans prepared for nuclear war.
In November 2020, SWOSU history professor and museum board member Landry Brewer acquired some decades-old western Oklahoma Cold War civil defense items, and he created the display “Preparing to Survive Nuclear Attack: Western Oklahoma Cold War Civil Defense,” which is the new rotating exhibit at the Weatherford museum.
The display features items that the federal government provided to Elk City, including water barrels, food, sanitation kits from the 1960s, radioactivity monitoring devices, and part of a civil defense siren that would have warned locals of a nuclear attack.
“While researching Oklahoma civil defense, I learned of specific steps that western Oklahoma cities took to survive nuclear war, and the Heartland Museum wanted to share some of this visually as we approach an important Cold War anniversary this fall,” Brewer said.
During the Kennedy presidency in the early 1960s, the federal government began a nationwide program to identify existing buildings to be used as fallout shelters and stock them with supplies.
Shortly afterward the federal fallout shelter sign was created to be placed on buildings that met the federal government’s criteria, and these would be stocked with survival supplies.
The Elk City fallout shelter supplies that Brewer used for his display were a result of this program.
This October is the 60th anniversary of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, when President Kennedy learned that the Soviet Union was placing missiles in Cuba capable of reaching the United States with nuclear bombs.
“This was the closest that the United States and the Soviet Union came to nuclear war, and newspapers in Elk City and Altus and even the SWOSU student newspaper carried stories about civil defense measures being taken to survive,” Brewer said.
As with the rest of the nation, fallout shelters were identified and stocked in western Oklahoma’s cities, including eight on the SWOSU campus in Weatherford. The museum’s display includes a 1966 photograph of campus shelter Stewart Hall, and a 1970 photo of the Old Science Building, also a fallout shelter.
When the Cold War ended after the Soviet Union disbanded in the early 1990s, many civil defense supplies were placed in storage and, over time, thrown away.
“We’re pleased to preserve some local civil defense artifacts and share them with the public and remember a time when fear of nuclear war was part of daily life for western Oklahomans,” Brewer said.
The Heartland of America Museum is located at 1600 S. Frontage Road, between I-40 Exits 82 & 84 in Weatherford.
Got a news tip? Send it in: Email news@kecofm.com
Copyright 2022 Paragon Communications. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.
Great Plains Regional Medical Center Honored for Excellent Patient Outcome
Elk City, OK – Great Plains Regional Medical Center (GPRMC) has received a Performance Leadership Award from The Chartis Center for Rural Health. The Elk City hospital received the award for excellence in patient outcomes for 2025.
Saving Millions
Elk City, OK — Fiscal discipline has allowed the City of Elk City to pay off nearly $20 million in outstanding debt since the end of the 2020 fiscal year. Doing this has saved almost $3 million
Rapid DNA Testing Helps Lead to Arrest in Beckham County Storage Break-In Investigation
Elk City, OK – An arrest has been made in connection to a recent storage facility break-in in Beckham County, according to Sheriff Derek Manning. The case, which was first reported last week, involved multiple break-ins at
Dr. Trevor Ellis Receives SWOSU’s 2026 Bernhardt Academic Excellence Award
Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University honored Dr. Trevor Ellis with the 2026 Bernhardt Academic Excellence Award during the Academic Excellence Banquet on Thursday, March 12. Ellis is professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry
Salt Fork Fire Near Martha 80% Contained as Drought Worsens Across Western Oklahoma
Jackson County, OK — Fire crews continue to make progress on the Salt Fork Fire burning near the town of Martha, northwest of Altus. The Oklahoma Forestry Service reported Wednesday morning the fire is now about 80%
Hibler Makes Gift to Fund New SWOSU Mailroom Delivery Van
Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) is pleased to announce a generous charitable gift from former SWOSU President Dr. Joe Anna Hibler to fund the purchase of a new mailroom van to support campus operations.
Candidate Filing Begins Aprils 1st
Sayre, OK – Statewide election activity officially begins at 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 1st, when the candidate filing period opens, the Secretary of the Beckham County Election Board said today. Candidates for state offices file with the
Early Voting Begins April 2nd
Sayre, OK – Early voting begins Thursday, April 2nd for voters in Beckham County. Voters who will not be able to make it to the polls on Election Day, have the option of voting early at their
Fatal Crash Reported in Beckham County Early Tuesday
Beckham County, OK – A single-vehicle crash in rural Beckham County early Tuesday morning claimed the life of a Lawton man. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the collision occurred at approximately 3:01 a.m. on March 18
SWOSU Dedicates Jerry and Margaret Hodge Center for Pharmacy and Rural Health
Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) formally dedicated the Jerry and Margaret Hodge Center for Pharmacy and Rural Health on Thursday, March 12, marking a major milestone in the university’s effort to expand healthcare education
Mountain Park Homicide Suspect Found Guilty
Mountain Park, OK – On March 14, 2025, the Mountain Park Police Department requested the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to investigate a homicide. Around 2:30 a.m., officers responded to a shooting call at a residence off
Early Morning Collision in Roger Mills County Injures Pedestrian
Roger Mills County, OK – A three-unit collision earlier this month in Roger Mills County resulted in injuries to a pedestrian attempting to assist a stranded vehicle. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the incident occurred at
Two Injured in Late Night Collision West of Altus
Jackson County, OK – Two drivers were injured in a two-vehicle collision late Friday night at an intersection west of Altus. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at approximately 11:06 p.m. Friday, March 13,
Two Arrested Following Oilfield Theft Investigation
Dewey County, OK – On June 9, 2025, an Ovintiv Energy security consultant requested the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to investigate a theft of oilfield equipment. After an internal investigation by the company, it was determined
Wildfires Spark Evacuations, Power Outages Across Western Oklahoma
Beckham County, OK – Multiple wildfires fueled by strong winds kept emergency crews busy across western Oklahoma on Sunday forcing evacuations in parts of Beckham County and drawing responses from numerous fire departments across the region. One
Oklahoma House Passes Archer’s Bill Creating Natural Gas Research Hub
Oklahoma City, OK – The Oklahoma House has approved legislation aimed at positioning the state to host a national research laboratory focused on natural gas and other advanced technologies. House Bill 3176 passed the Oklahoma House on
Fires Being Investigated in Roger Mills County
Roger Mills County, OK — Local firefighters responded Monday to three separate grass fires in Roger Mills County, with authorities saying evidence suggests the fires may have been intentionally set. According to Roger Mills County Sheriff Darren
Reach Higher Scholarships Help Adult Learners Finish Degrees at SWOSU
Weatherford, OK – The Reach Higher degree-finishing program at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) awarded over $15,000 in Finish Line scholarships to 10 students enrolled in Reach Higher degree programs, with awards averaging just over $1,500 per
Last Week to Request Absentee Ballots for April 7th Election
Cheyenne, OK – The deadline to request absentee ballots by mail is approaching. Applications must be received by the County Election Board no later than 5 p.m. Monday, March 23rd. Roger Mills County Election Board Secretary Kelly
Deadline to Change Party Affiliation Approaches
Arapaho, OK – Oklahomans who want to change their party affiliation must submit their change no later than March 31, (Custer County Election Board Secretary Ann Brown said today. Voters may change their party affiliation online using
Michael Mendoza Announces Candidacy for Shamrock Mayor
Shamrock, TX – Michael Mendoza has announced his candidacy for Mayor of Shamrock in the upcoming municipal election scheduled for May 2, 2026. Mendoza, branch manager at BOC Bank and a 12 year resident of Shamrock, said
Storage Facility Break-In Under Investigation in Beckham County
Beckham County, OK – Beckham County authorities are investigating a break-in that occurred last week at a storage facility in the county, according to Sheriff Derek Manning. Manning said the incident happened during the night and involved
Inmate Accused of Smuggling Drug-Soaked Contraband Into Beckham County Jail
Sayre, OK – Beckham County Sheriff Derek Manning says investigators are looking into an incident in which an inmate allegedly smuggled contraband into the Beckham County Jail in an attempt to sell it to other inmates. According
Mother Arrested After Juvenile Injured in Beckham County Incident
Beckham County, OK – A Beckham County woman has been arrested after a juvenile was injured during a domestic incident, according to Beckham County Sheriff Derek Manning. Sheriff Manning said deputies were called to a residence after
Lawton Man Killed in Kiowa County Rollover Crash
Kiowa County, OK – A Lawton man died Friday morning following a single-vehicle crash in Kiowa County, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The collision occurred at approximately 9:48 a.m. Friday, March 6, on State Highway 19
