Of course, the early 1960s in Seattle weren’t only about the potential for nuclear destruction. “Scenic Drive” Sign on the Alaskan Way Viaduct Incidentally, this reporter can attest that those nutritional crackers were still edible, if someone flavorless and very gritty, as recently as the mid 1980s. What might be one of the last still visible examples in downtown Seattle is on Western Avenue, a few blocks north of Yesler. ![]() Ultimately, like the Cold War itself, these era-defining artifacts gradually disappeared, one by one, likely finding their way to the walls of frat houses and suburban garages.Ī fairly exhaustive search of downtown (through the windshield and, of course, via social media) reveals that very few are left on display. “Fallout Shelter” signs – somehow simultaneously creepy and reassuring – were prized by amateur collectors of civic doomsday décor. It was more than 50 years ago when the federal government launched a program to stock the basements of urban buildings with survival supplies, including Geiger counters, first aid kits, barrels of water and giant tins of nutritional biscuits, all in the name of preparing for a nuclear attack.įrom the early 1960s to 1990s, distinctive yellow and dark blue “FALLOUT SHELTER” signs were ubiquitous on the sides of buildings all along the streets of major urban areas, including downtown Seattle. ![]() Chalk this up to “I.D.A” or Infrastructure Delay Amnesia, the condition that sets in once a long-delayed tunnel, stadium, freeway or commuter rail system final opens to the public and everyone forgets the schedule changes and cost overruns.Įither way, for visitors to our city in search of TEMP I-90, consider yourself warned! But there are probably just as many longtime residents who don’t remember “TEMP I-90” and the struggles to fully fund the roadway and complete construction of the interchange at I-5.
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