When John Sims purchased a friend’s house in Tucson, Arizona, he heard a curious rumor—something unusual was buried on the property. Intrigued, he began digging through both the soil and historical records. His search eventually led him to a surprising revelation: in 1961, Whitaker Pools had constructed a mysterious structure on the site.
Determined to learn more, John enlisted the help of metal detection experts. Their efforts uncovered a metal hatch buried three feet underground. After reinforcing the entry and installing lighting, John descended into the hidden space.
What he discovered stunned him—a fully preserved Cold War-era nuclear bomb shelter, built during a time when fears of nuclear conflict loomed large.
John shared his find online, and the story quickly went viral. To his astonishment, other Tucson residents began reporting similar underground shelters on their own properties.
Encouraged by the growing public interest, John decided to turn the shelter into a small Cold War museum. His goal: to preserve this slice of history and educate visitors about the anxiety and preparedness that defined the era.
The shelter remains outfitted with original fixtures, food storage compartments, and bunk-style beds—offering a rare window into 1960s civil defense planning.
John’s discovery didn’t just unearth a relic of the past—it reignited local curiosity about Tucson’s hidden history. His find serves as a quiet, powerful reminder of a time when families built their own defenses against the unimaginable.
