Big Dams of the American West
Clip: Season 34 Episode 3 | 1m 48s
Beginning in the 1930s, large dams were built on important watersheds.
After the St. Francis Dam disaster of 1928, engineers applied lessons learned to expansive dam projects in the American West.
Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
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Big Dams of the American West
Clip: Season 34 Episode 3 | 1m 48s
After the St. Francis Dam disaster of 1928, engineers applied lessons learned to expansive dam projects in the American West.
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Chapter 1 | Flood in the Desert
Video has Closed Captions
Watch a preview of Flood in the Desert. (10m 34s)
The Paiute people built sophisticated irrigation canals to channel water in California. (55s)
Explore the 1928 dam collapse, the second deadliest disaster in California history. (1m 51s)
In 1922, Mulholland began building the St. Francis Dam to meet the needs of Los Angeles. (52s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.