Skip to main content
Back to Show
PBS News Hour

A look at the origins of NORAD's Santa tracker

During the Cold War, Air Force Col. Harry Shoup was one of the commanders in charge of an early warning radar system based in Colorado. It had been set up to detect a possible soviet missile attack on the United States. In this animated conversation from our colleagues at StoryCorps, three of Shoup's children recall a surprising phone call their dad received back in 1955.

Support Provided By
Season
July 2, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
July 2, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
July 1, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
July 1, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 30, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
June 30, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 29, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
June 29, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 26, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
56:46
June 26, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 25, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
June 25, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 24, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
June 24, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 23, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
June 23, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 22, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
June 22, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 19, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
June 19, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 18, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
56:46
June 18, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 17, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
June 17, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
Active loading indicator