At the height of the Cold War, many communities participated in Civil Defense exercises designed to prepare us in the event of nuclear attack. Here, Thurston County staffer Jim Falin tests an alarm siren button designed to warn the community of an imminent threat. Photograph selected and captioned by Deborah Ross on behalf of the Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum. More information is available at olympiahistory.org. October 1961, Daily Olympian collection, Washington State Historical Society