[Boatanchors] "The Rollins Rocket" Lives!

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On 10/27/05, Ralph <rhowes at greenapple.com> wrote:
> Todd:
> Can you tell me about the Cuban Crisis display in St. Pete????? I was aboard
> the USS Newport News (CA148) during the blockade. Appreciate the info.

Seems they no longer have it set up, Ralph - it closed May 1st.

http://www.floridamuseum.org/press_releases/2-22.html

It was supposed to be a permanent exhibit, but that obviously didn't
take into account moving to smaller quarters. Sounds like they are
trying to find someone else to host it intact, though.

Briefly, a lot of great stuff from CONELRAD to a Gonset Gooneybox (In
CD Yellow w/appropriate decals) to an actual trailered Russian SAM of
the era (which took up an entire room). The notes scribbled by Kennedy
during the meetings (real, not copies), newspaper articles, many, many
photographs and just a lot of neat stuff from that era. Complete rooms
full of that hideous chrome and vinyl 'retro' stuff so poplar now. Old
B&W TV sets showing taped news reports of the day and so on. Literally
like stepping back 43 years, and it took you through the entire 13
days from step one.

One of the things they had that I now regret not trying was one of the
big air raid sirens. It was mounted in a sealed Plexiglas box and had
a push button to sound it, but I didn't dare. Even totally enclosed, I
thought it would be too loud!

My YL is a Cold War/Cuban Missile Crisis nut and is involved with the
Cold War Museum started by Francis Gary Powers, Jr. When they get it
set back up again, I would be happy to post the info here if there is
an interest. It does have boatanchor content both in actual gear and
many other associations, as well as being from the general 'Golden Age
of Boatanchors' timeframe.

Thanks for your service to our country, Ralph. Especially during such
a tense time.

~ Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ