Water and power
Washington Governor Clarence Martin donned coveralls and boots to work the ceremonial first pour of concrete at Grand Coulee Dam in December 1935.
COURTESY PHOTO/U.S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
The Columbia River at the site of Grand Coulee Dam in 1933, when a dam was still a dream.
The west powerhouse in 1943. With the coming of World War II, the concerns about the dam producing more electricity than the region could use turned out to be unfounded.
Construction workers at Grand Coulee Dam work concrete in 1938.
A worker sets a steam hammer to pound in piles for a temporary dam, called a cofferdam, at the site of Grand Coulee in August 1936.
Grand Coulee Dam starts to take shape in the late 1930s.
Workers drill blasting holes to remove rock from the site of Grand Coulee Dam in 1938.
The foundation of Grand Coulee Dam is under construction in an aerial view from about 1936.
A turbine-generator component in the west powerhouse is moved into position in 1947,
The Bureau of Reclamation ran its own railroad, shown in 1943.
A turbine component, a “needle valve,” is lowered into place in Grand Coulee Dam’s east powerhouse in 1944.
A turbine component, a “needle valve,” is lowered into place in Grand Coulee Dam’s east powerhouse in 1944.
GRAND COULEE — The editors of Life magazine could not hide their suspicion that President Franklin D. Roosevelt had decided a trip to check on a project was an excellent excuse to get out of town.
Become a Subscriber!
You have read all of your free articles this month. Select a plan below to start your subscription today.
Already a subscriber? Login
