Ian Larkin has a lot of questions about the missile defenses that peppered Chicago and the suburbs in the 1950s and 1960s.

It might surprise most current residents, but the Chicago area once had twenty-two supersonic steel missiles guarding us from enemy planes. Almost all physical evidence of this missile program is gone. Almost.

Jennifer Brandel set out to bring the fascinating legacy of Chicago's Cold War history to light.

This podcast was mixed with music by Lauki and Broke for Free.

For more on this story including maps and more, visit: http://www.wbez.org/series/curious-city/what-happened-nike-missile-sites-around-chicago-105087