Grand Coulee Dam
Season 24 Episode 6 | 52m 5sVideo has Closed Captions
Grand Coulee Dam loomed large in America's imagination during the Great Depression.
Of the many public works projects of the New Deal, Grand Coulee Dam loomed largest in America's imagination during the darkest days of the Depression. It promised to fulfill President Franklin Roosevelt's vision for a "planned promised land" where hard-working farm families would finally be free from the drought and dislocation caused by the elements.
For Season 24 of American Experience, exclusive corporate funding is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance, major funding by The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting...
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Grand Coulee Dam
Season 24 Episode 6 | 52m 5sVideo has Closed Captions
Of the many public works projects of the New Deal, Grand Coulee Dam loomed largest in America's imagination during the darkest days of the Depression. It promised to fulfill President Franklin Roosevelt's vision for a "planned promised land" where hard-working farm families would finally be free from the drought and dislocation caused by the elements.
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In the spring of 1952, work was finally underway on the Columbia Basin Project. (1m 5s)
The biggest challenge in building Grand Coulee Dam was diverting the flow of the Columbia. (2m 40s)
Grand Coulee Dam: Engineering Challenges
The engineering challenges became apparent as soon as construction got underway. (2m 46s)
Grand Coulee Dam: Pouring the Concrete
It took millions of cubic yards of concrete to build Grand Coulee Dam. (1m 56s)
The Impact of Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam was dedicated in front of a crowd of 8,000 on March 22, 1941. (1m 13s)
Grand Coulee Dam's Open Spillways
This 15-second time-lapse video shows the Grand Coulee Dam's spillway closing. (15s)
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
For Season 24 of American Experience, exclusive corporate funding is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance, major funding by The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting...