New Jersey on the Frontlines: Riker Hill and the Statewide Nike Missile Bases during the Cold War
Don Bender will discuss the network of Nike Missile bases in New Jersey including the installation at Riker Hill on the Livingston/East Hanover border that constituted an air defense system against a potential Soviet nuclear attack from the 1950s to the 70s. At one time, there were 14 Nike Missile Bases scattered across the state of New Jersey. The 42-acre Riker Hill facility which was purchased from the federal government for one dollar was converted into an Essex County Park in 1976 that includes 38 artist studios.
Please register using the Registration Link:
https://bccls.libcal.com/event/6412365
Upon registration, a link to the Zoom meeting will be provided.
This meeting has been organized by Montclair State University’s Harry A. Sprague Library, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, School of Communication and Media, Office of International Engagement, WMSC Radio, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, Disability Resource Center and the Center for Community Engagement.
Funding has been made possible in part by the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of Cultural Affairs within the Department of State, through funds administered by the Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs and the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this series do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.
Additional support has been provided by the Montclair Society of Engineers, NJ Peace Action, IEEE North Jersey, Montclair TV34, Livingston Historical Society and the Livingston Public Library.
Donald Bender has explored and documented Cold War military sites for two decades. He is the founder of Cold War Preservation, a research, advocacy and preservation consultancy. He has a particular expertise in former Nike missile installations. Bender has assisted the United States Army, National Park Service, federal, state and local agencies, museums, the Danish Foreign Policy Association and others with historical research, writing and public programs. His work has been featured in major news media including the New York Times. He has appeared on New York's WNBC-TV, on WABC-TV's Boston and Philadelphia affiliates, the Travel Channel, The History Channel and National Public Radio. He is the author of one book, numerous articles and a dozen entries for the Encyclopedia of New Jersey (Rutgers University Press) including the entry on “missile sites”.
Date and Time
Location
Hosts
Registration
- Date: 13 Oct 2021
- Time: 07:00 PM to 08:00 PM
- All times are (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
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- Montclair, New Jersey
- United States 07043
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Contacts:
Adriaan van Wijngaarden (avw@ieee.org)
- Co-sponsored by Montclair State University
Speakers
Don Bender
Address:Montclair, New Jersey, United States