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Duck and Cover Traditional Cache

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Hidden : 5/22/2010
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:


This air raid siren tower was built in 1953 on the site of the old John B. Allen Elementary School, which is now the Phinney Neighborhood Center. This Chrysler siren was part of a 21-siren system designed to alert Seattle-area residents in the case of a nuclear missile attack. While the sirens were thankfully never used for an actual warning, all of the air raid sirens in Seattle were tested every Wednesday at noon for more than twenty years, reminding residents of the ongoing threat of nuclear war.

Although this siren has remained silent since the mid-1970s, its continued existence makes it a rarity. Most civil defense towers in Seattle have been dismantled, although at least two still remain within the city limits; the other one that I have seen is at the entrance to North Acres Park on 1st Avenue NE.

The Phinney Neighborhood Association opened a small community park at the foot of the tower in 2002, and also spruced up the rusting air raid siren to preserve a piece of local history. The park at the base of the tower has four benches with quotations by Mahatma Gandhi and George Bernard Shaw. Cachers will be able to peace out at one of these benches after retrieving the container and signing the log.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)