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4.4.12.wavThe Cold War conflict once again put Alaska on the front lines. In the new age of atomic bombs, Alaska's strategic location at the center of air routes became all the more important. Massive military bases were built at Anchorage and Fairbanks. Eielson Air For Base near Fairbanks became the largest airfield in the world. Other bases were built or expanded at Adak, Kodiak, King Salmon, Delta Junction, and Shemya.
A system of early warning radar and communication stations was built at over 50 locations around the territory to detect a Russian attack. In the era of nuclear bombers, these were the new front lines of war.
Cold War radar station on Arctic coastline
The military construction efforts brought another boom of investment. In the early 1950s, the federal government spent an average of $350 million per year on defense. The massive spending stimulated Alaska's economy and development. New businesses sprung up as banks, hotels, stores, and restaurants opened to service military personnel, construction workers, and their families. Communities built new housing, schools, and roads needed for the expanding population.
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