Fri, Dec 10, 1993
The completion of the Grand Coulee Dam proved America's industrial might could overcome any obstacle, even mother nature. Construction of this massive dam on Washington's Columbia River began in 1931. But the sheer magnitude of the project brought on unique problems that demanded inventive solutions. When bedrock was exposed, a huge mass of clay began moving forward, threatening to swallow up the foundation. After much frantic deliberation, the engineers froze the clay, stopping its ominous advance and allowing construction to continue. With rare footage of its construction, interviews with the men who helped build it, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the massive dam today, this is the complete story of the Grand Coulee Dam.