Nuclear America

“Nukes (nuclear weapons and nuclear power plants) present the greatest threat to life ever known.” – Text, verso.

This inflammatory map of Nuclear America was issued in the late 1970s to inform the public about the proliferation of ‘nukes’ across the United States. Power generation, weapons facilities, and ‘miscellaneous’ facilities are noted throughout the image according to the legend in the lower right. Large splotches of red purportedly show ‘areas subject to direct nuclear attack during a nuclear war’ and cover many of America’s largest population centers. The verso presents a detailed index of the scores of facilities shown within the image, along with some decidedly one-sided information about the negatives of nuclear power.

The map was prepared by Ed Hedemann, Grace Hedemann, Gale Jackson, Jennifer Kraar, and Jo Moody of the War Resisters League. Printed by The Print Shop of Smithtown, New York in 1979 (second edition). One of several anti-nuclear posters issued by the pacifist organization, established in 1923.