Ep 8. Grand Coulee Dam

The American Experience, season 24, episode 8, titled "Grand Coulee Dam," takes viewers on an exploration of the creation of one of the world's largest hydroelectric dams and the incredible transformations it brought to the American West. Located on the Columbia River in central Washington, the Grand Coulee Dam was a massive undertaking that took nearly a decade to build. Once completed, it provided cheap, reliable electricity to the region and water for irrigation, fundamentally changing the landscape and economy of the area.

The episode begins by delving into the history of the Columbia River and the Native American tribes who lived along its banks for thousands of years. It explores the complex relationship between the tribes and the river, which was both a source of sustenance and spiritual significance. But with the arrival of European settlers in the 1800s came the gradual encroachment on tribal lands and the construction of other dams and projects that disrupted the river's natural flow.

As the episode moves into the 20th century, it explores the early efforts to harness the power of the Columbia River for electricity and irrigation. It paints a vivid picture of the era of "big dam building," when massive projects like the Hoover Dam and Bonneville Dam were constructed across the West, with the Grand Coulee Dam as the crown jewel.

The construction of the Grand Coulee Dam is a feat of engineering, and the show pulls no punches in illustrating the scale of the project. Viewers are taken on a tour of the construction site and see the massive concrete blocks being poured, the construction workers dangling from ropes at dizzying heights, and hear from those who worked on the project. We also get a sense of the sheer ambition and scope of the dam project, with engineers envisioning a massive network of dams and canals that would transform the region into a breadbasket of agricultural production.

But as with any massive project, there were setbacks and controversies along the way. The show explores the social and environmental impacts of the project, including the displacement of Native American communities and the damage to the river's ecosystem. We hear from those who fought against the project and how they were ultimately unsuccessful in stopping it, with the dam's construction proceeding despite their protests.

Despite these challenges, the Grand Coulee Dam was completed in 1941, and the episode explores the incredible transformations it brought to the region. We see footage of the massive generators spinning, sending electricity to homes and businesses across the Pacific Northwest. We also see the impact on agriculture, with formerly arid stretches of land now fertile and productive.

Perhaps most importantly, we hear from those whose lives were transformed by the dam's construction. We hear from farmers who were able to grow crops thanks to the dam's irrigation, and from Native American communities who had to adapt to the new reality of the dam. We also hear from the children of those who worked on the dam, who remember growing up in the shadow of the massive structure and how their lives were shaped by its construction.

Overall, "Grand Coulee Dam" is a fascinating exploration of one of the largest infrastructure projects in American history. It's a reminder of the incredible power of engineering and innovation, but also a cautionary tale of the social and environmental costs that can come with such projects. It's a must-watch for anyone interested in the history of the American West, and those who want to understand the complex relationship between humans and the natural world.