The Protected School (1965)

Year Published: 1965

Format: 16mm

Sound: sound

Description: This government film, produced by the Department of Defense and the Office of Civil Defense, profiles United High School in Laredo, Texas. United High School was the first school in the nation to not only build its classrooms underground, but also design the school with a protective shield for the lower level so that in the event of nuclear fallout, the school could be locked down to serve as a shelter for the community. This atomic age video highlights the features of the school and its architecture, including a decontamination shower in the entrance and kitchens that can serve as a mass feeding center for up to 2,000 people in the event of a nuclear or natural disaster.