Atomic Leisure — Las Vegas, Nevada, 1955
On July 17, 1955, at precisely 5:30 a.m., swimmers at the Desert Inn pool in Las Vegas paused mid-dive. A mushroom cloud rose in the distance—65 miles away at the Nevada Test Site. The atomic blast, part of Operation Teapot, was visible from the Strip, and locals had gathered with lawn chairs and sunglasses to witness the spectacle. Children floated on inflatable rings, couples sipped coffee, and lifeguards pointed skyward. The juxtaposition was surreal: leisure and annihilation sharing the same horizon. For many, it was a symbol of American optimism, blind to the dangers of radiation. For others, it was a haunting reminder of the Cold War’s reach. That morning, Las Vegas became the only city in the world where you could sunbathe beneath a nuclear sunrise.
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Atomic Leisure — Las Vegas, Nevada, 1955
On July 17, 1955, at precisely 5:30 a.m., swimmers at the Desert Inn pool in Las Vegas paused mid-dive. A mushroom cloud rose in the distance—65 miles away at the Nevada Test Site. The atomic blast, part of Operation Teapot, was visible from the Strip, and locals had gathered with lawn chairs and sunglasses to witness the spectacle. Children floated on inflatable rings, couples sipped coffee, and lifeguards pointed skyward. The juxtaposition was surreal: leisure and annihilation sharing the same horizon. For many, it was a symbol of American optimism, blind to the dangers of radiation. For others, it was a haunting reminder of the Cold War’s reach. That morning, Las Vegas became the only city in the world where you could sunbathe beneath a nuclear sunrise.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JuigV4QpD/