Grand Coulee Dam: A Man-Made Marvel (Full Movie)

Grand Coulee Dam: A Man-Made Marvel, produced by the Bureau of Reclamation's Pacific Northwest Region's Public Affairs Office, is now showing to enthusiastic audiences at the dam's Visitor Center. This film, newest in their lineup, is loaded with historic construction footage, photos, and newsreels from Reclamation's legendary hydropower workhorse.

[@francisng2561]

Doing this feat of engineering that no country had ever done, plus in the early 1930s, when modern engineering had just began. Plus so many inventions came about. Surely, we have to salute these super brave engineers. They are the pride of America.

[@TheBerserker50]

plenty of engineering projects to honor...this one was a mighty disaster! nothing like a lil dominion and the destruction of an invaluable resource to soothe humanities insatiable need to screw things up .

[@JamesPilkenton-se5cx]

...and not a single calculator in sight

[@TGP109]

Without the GC Dam, we couldn't have put out as many planes for WW II. We needed the electrical power to make the aluminum.

[@michaelharrison7072]

A marvel in engineering Not only brought needed power to Seattle during second world war but provided banks lake and irrigation water .

[@davejay15]

My grandfather Jacob was the supervisor involved in the install of the alllis chambers turbines. He oversaw the building of them in milwaukee at the erecting shop to the reassembly of them on sight. Everything was shipped by rail. It was pretty amazing when you think about all of the details that had to come together on time and under budget.

[@nicholasderusha]

Super cool history! Thx for sharing!

[@voyaristika5673]

I like hearing personal history tid bits. Thanks!

[@williamhilbert8324]

Allis Chalmers

[@mikesimon7634]

I was born and raised in grand coulee. Both my parents were also born and raised there. They were highschool sweet hearts. Both my grand fathers worked on the damn in the 60s and 70s. My grandmother is a retired park ranger at Dry Falls. My whole family history is from this town

[@pierresashimoto4442]

Old school documentary-I miss these

[@The_Mimewar]

Me too! It’s the kind of thing I LOVED watching In school when we got a chance

[@willlee1411]

yes

[@garethh6962]

I do too if this was made in 2012 they'll be lying that black folk did this project.

[@sydneywaldron1799]

@@The_Mimewar i7ii7iiiiii7uí76ui66iiiii6iii7uiiuuuiüi7767iiii6666ì67i6i6uiii6üui6üí6ü7iuìiiiüìiü

[@The_Mimewar]

@@sydneywaldron1799 I’m having a hard time believing that

[@john1cheree]

With Pride ,My dad worked on this dam. Then into the US Army, as aircraft maintaince tech. Wool agitated his eczema, He went to work in the Kaiser ship yards. Not a well educated man, he did well for his family. He was always proud of the employment he had participated in for the country.

[@SsiolisP]

Yep! Most uneducated men of that era did considerably better as providers than today's educated men. Kaiser ship yards... google search... Oh, so your dad also contributed to the war effort as well as providing for his family!

[@wmcbarker4155]

I helped build interstate highways, only got hit twice

[@vector6977]

Aircraft maint. Techs were very well educated. Don't sell your dad short. The army taught those guys well.

[@mickcarson8504]

My dad was in the same situation as yours. He was the son of a blacksmith who was also the son of a blacksmith in the 1800s. His dad survived WW1 and the European depression and my dad, being a poorly educated man could not attain a high education too because of WW2 but was able to read and write. However, his will to learn and educate himself in the engineering industry as a blacksmith earned him the trust of the Army at 18 by convincing them that he could fix engines and some other bullshit. He told me that he often came across grounded Bi-planes and other WW1 relics, disassembled the engines and other components and repaired a Bi-plane which he flew above the Army barracks to show the big wigs that dad repaired the engine and rebuilt the aircraft at his dad's foundry. The army was impressed and instead of sending him to war, they gave him a mechanic job in the large military workshop, repairing vehicles. He said that he was very happy, he learned a lot and improved his skills. Then they moved him in the aircraft section, repairing damaged airplanes, Spitfires, etc. 4 years after WW2 he met and married my mum and I was born the following year. He left the Army and moved to a local town, then went to Germany, then Belgium for work before he decided to move to Melbourne Australia. There he first worked with GMH in the early 50s at Port Melbourne then with his brother opened a motor mechanic workshop and began fixing cars, trucks, etc. He had spare land adjoining the building and in the 60s extended to include panel beating and body repairs. He sent me to school to get a better education because, though he was lucky for his persistence in military skills and knowledge of his work, he had also wished he'd had a better education. Nevertheless, he wasn't envious but made sure that I was not going to be like him in education sense. At 15 I was already into his blood, learning mechanical skills and dad often provided me with something to do, repair or build, a 4 cylinder engine, or a 6V dynamo (a car voltage generator) and other sort of items I could do on weekends. Over the years I became a Uni trained mechanic engineer apart from getting trophies in sport and other nice things and then became a qualified mechanic engineer and worked with dad at first as a mechanic then as a operation manager running a team of 27 mechanics and panel beaters, electricians and so on. I never complained, instead I was proud of what I was doing for many year.

[@billybeemus3929]

My dad was a mechanic and heavy equipment operator working on the building of the interstate highway system in the Pacific Northwest. We moved constantly following the work. In the later years as we would travel, he would proudly state that he had helped build the road that we were traveling on.

[@toomanyhobbies2011]

Nice video showcasing the construction of a truly awesome project! In 1936 my dad traveled from San Antonio to the desert of Southern California. He was 14 years old and worked on a horse ranch of a relative because his dad died and his mom could only raise his three younger siblings. I'm sure this was a common story for many of the workers on this dam. The Great Depression helped produce the work ethic that won WWII.

[@sssbob]

In 1984 my family took a tour thru the dam. The sheer size of everything was unbelievable.

[@sandyf6]

My Grandfather, John M Sawyer. was General Superintendent of Grans Coulee Dam. I just found his photos and albums. From Exchequer Dam, Misselbeck Dam, Hoover Dam, Henshaw Dam, Snow Mountain Dam, O'Shaughnessy Dam, Witney Point Dam, Gene Dam, Washington Dam, Copper Basin Dam, his life work.

[@James-xu3vc]

Quite the legacy, indeed ❤❤

[@PatrickBaptist]

I hope he was a born again Christian for his life's work, otherwise his life was a waste no matter what he did.

[@jiminykripes4937]

Damn. That's a lot of dams

[@darthfelipe6620]

Brazillian here, i'm was playing American Truck Simulator months ago and when i came to city of Grand Coulee i'm very impressed by this dam, i needed to stop the truck and use the Free Camera Mode to see this beautiful construction. So awesome and nice documentary.

[@tomparker8932]

My Dad was a steelworker @ one time who helped make the USA what it is today with his dedication, commitment and pure blood , sweat, and tears with pride. What a gargantuan undertaking with the vision of a better country for all.

[@zorroonmilkavitch1840]

Wow my grandfather was either Foreman or something on the Holland Tunnel what year was that I forget but that sounded like a wild job digging through the East River going into Manhattan

[@bobs6129]

Was he from Pittsburgh by any chance? we had tons of mill hunkies

[@seanlucey3959]

Natives ?

[@lewispaine4589]

I've seen this dam 3 times since 1977, it's never failed to awe me, well worth the trip.

[@h-trainx1032]

It is crazy how far we have come

[@jefflebow8790]

Amazing video telling an amazing story! Note how they changed the design during construction (by adding height, etc.). They did it without skipping a beat & still finished ahead of schedule & under budget! And this was done when blueprints were still drawn by hand! Contrast that with construction of any nuclear power plant these days - years late & hundreds of $millions over budget! Was fortunate to tour the dam in 1982. They took us inside & we saw all the generators in action. The scale of it all was mind-blowing. Remember thinking it would be the best setting ever for a James Bond movie! Ken Adam, Peter Lamont & Dennis Gassner let's see you try to top this! (Production Designers for most of the 007 movies)

[@johncashwell1024]

The first, and only, time I visited Grand Coulee Dam I was amazed by the fact that the roadway used the Dam as a bridge! I was just taking a "shortcut" on my way up to Chilliwack, B.C.. Turning off of I-90 I found that the "back way" was filled with beautiful landscapes. I found myself driving through a desert, I didn't even know existed and majestic mountains that left me in awe of their beauty. I even experienced a high altitude thunderstorm that turned into "thundersnow" as I went up a mountain. This really is a great production, Bureau of Reclamation, it strongly reminds my of a Ken Burns production.

[@3069mark]

I spent about a day there in the Fall of '94 as part of my vacation driving trip from Iowa to the Pacific Northwest. I arrived in the late afternoon and set up my campsite and then that evening I went to the viewing area where they projected a movie onto the spillway. The movie was animated and was the "Story of the Columbia River". The next day I toured the powerhouses and the visitor center. It was an experience I will never ever forget. It made me proud to be an American.

[@mwhitelaw8569]

There's alot more to see up here We ain't shy about showing off our place C'mon back when ya can

[@ConvairDart106]

You spent a day. Whoopee! My family has been here well over a hundred years. My Grandfather, and his before him, never had to leave the state to earn a living as Commercial fishermen. There were over 2,500 vessels that the river provided a living too, as well as the Natives. I am the second generation, that has had to move the family fishing operation, to Alaska. Now, we have this Pebble Mine project, that is threatening the last, as well as the largest, Sockeye run in the world. Electricity and Gold, are luxuries man can live without. With a growing world population, these Salmon, are more precious than both of these!

[@michaelwills1926]

ConvairDart106 salmon ain’t gonna power your internet.

[@ConvairDart106]

@@michaelwills1926 Salmon , payed ALL my bills last year! What do you think a commercial fisherman does?

[@ConvairDart106]

@reverse thrust Where I first encountered them. I was a firefighter in the 62nd MAW, at McChord in 1979. The "Green Dragons" were scrambled, and we were put on alert. We were right by the runway, as they went by in full burner. And the sonic booms that came out of the overcast a half a minute later. Very impressive!

[@ironcladranchandforge7292]

My Grandfather and his brother delivered steel by truck during the construction of Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River, which was built during the same time as the Hoover and Grand Coulee dams. Lots of major dam construction during this time. They built the Bonneville Dam using the same method of building coffer dams to push the River to one side.

[@SilentKnight43]

Great story. Great history...such a remarkable achievement. Built just in time for WWII hydro production when it was needed. Thoroughly enjoyed the documentary.

[@clemclemson9259]

same here- hard to believe what this country has come to now

[@kermitefrog64]

The Grand Coulee Dam is very impressive. I had the opportunity to take a tour of it about 32 years ago.

[@CBeard849]

My Uncle worked for Guy F. Atkinson all over the Northwest. it must have been something to be involved in projects like that! I would imagine jobs that give a sense of that kind of pride are much harder to come by.

[@randyisaksson3301]

You guys did a great job with this documentary!! Thank you for the whole story of the Colville tribe included in this documentary. My big thing is the WHOLE STORY NOT JUST THE GOOD PARTS. AGAIN THANK YOU FOR THE HONEST REPORTING!!

[@kevinlyle4351]

Grand Coulee Dam was the vision of great men over 100 years ago. It was a huge factor in winning WW2. Lots of farmers are still waiting for water. 1.1 million acres were to be irrigated. Today only about 700,000 acres are irrigated.

[@JohnDoe-jq5wy]

The second phase of the irrigation development is dependent on the extending the "EAST LOW" canal eastward toward Washtucna. The "EAST HIGH" canal, about 30 miles north of the East low, is planned for extension in the future. Everyone who is knowledgeable of this subject will be amazed when construction begins....NEVER SAY NEVER.

[@bobpaulino4714]

John Doe, Seems like the the perfect time for a public works project once corona crap fades

[@mikebyrne9739]

Doubt you'll see the next irrigation phase built . The popular trend now is to remove dams.

[@rmore935]

@@JohnDoe-jq5wy The high canal was never built. The Gubment told farmers to dig wells and then when they did, they began sucking the aquafer dry. They sunk their wells deeper and deeper. And of course, the Gubment then claimed that water belonged to the Gubment and farmers were forced to shut down. So typical of the Gubments almighty power and greed.

[@georgewashington938]

This summer I took my family to see the Grand Coulee Dam. The Columbia River and Grand Coulee Dam were very impressive and beautiful!

[@godfreecharlie]

Thanks for the great video! My grandfather was instrumental in my fascination with human accomplishments. I got to visit the Dalles Dam and Bonneville in the late 50s and early 60s in his desire to teach me about the natural world. We traveled between Pendleton and Portland often and I was always anticipating the nearing of the dams. Not ones the size of Grand Coulee but still impressive. The generators were massive to me, I can only imagine the ones in GC. Makes me wonder if those Soviet era dams touted by the state propaganda machine are still online producing power or holding back water. Given the many failures of the workers paradise in construction, farming, design, quality control, etc.... I am doubtful. Their catastrophic failure with the Aral Sea was monumental, but Soviet leaders love monumental. I've stayed in Oregon, never moved and I am still benefiting every day from the dams built up and down the Columbia River. My family has farmed in Oregon and Washington for generations, some near Ephrata and Waitsburg WA and some in Vale, OR. This great Pacific Northwest is what it is: beautiful in every way and the Columbia River has been generous. Number one on my bucket list.

[@BrilliantDesignOnline]

Excellent production. I have lived all over Eastern Washington and flown over the dam as a pilot, but never knew this story.

[@robertfuda1812]

I’m mok

[@robertfuda1812]

I up

[@johngullo9420]

The view must be incredible!

[@HillBillyBrown]

The spill way being built directly over the damn was ingenious, especially for that time period.

[@HillBillyBrown]

actually people where probably smarter back then

[@john1703]

I am not surprised that it was completed ahead of schedule and under budget. Corners were cut compared to today. The ingenuity was marvellous, but the safety was woeful. For example, riding on the item hanging off the crane hook. The world was different nearly 100 years ago.

[@ramvikuntam2709]

It is amazing to see. Thank you for producing an excellent movie

[@garymeis2311]

0 minutos

[@ewanbaxter9199]

Quite a marvel in it's day and still is spectacular. I noticed it was not arched like others but had straight form.

[@Builder99]

you have to be very proud of all these great people at that time and in that place...Just great stuff ...

[@humclarge]

It's nice once in a while to be reminded that our government did at one time work for the betterment of the country and lives of those living in it.

[@raymondmyers6899]

Corporate welfare sucking at the public teat.

[@blogengeezer4507]

China and Russia, even DPRK, have had continual mega projects, "For the Common Good". Not that it is preferable to live in either ;)

[@yoaryknot7726]

And the government wouldn't do a public works project like this unless it would show a profit!! During a tour of the Hoover Dam, I asked the tour guide if that dam could be built today, given all the environmental obstacles. He replied that it could NOT be done today. I guess that's progress.

[@samhouston2000]

If you look closely, you will notice that foreigners are in control of our government and business enterprises. No I am not talking about Immigrants or people of color. I am talking about the people who have the interest of their home countries. You know who I am talking about, one of the country which is as old as this dam.

[@samhouston2000]

@Rand Robinson Agree, But we can not blame China for that. We need to negotiate trade deals that benefit our country. The problem is that our Giant corporations are making dough hand-over-fist trading with China while destroying our Small Business Industry in the process. Notice Trillions of dollars Apple, Amazon, and few others are sitting on. These greedy corporations are actually the culprits. Back in a day, if the project was large enough as this dam project multiple companies will join hands and form a consortium and work together. We protected our business enterprises by legislation. Sherman and Clayton's act is a historical example. Today, these Amazons and Microsoft have become SO POWERFUL that they are influencing our Internation relations and foreign Policies. We have lost our countries to vultures of Wall Street. Whoever controls our money controls us now. GOD BLESS AMERICA.

[@shawncirignano4876]

My step dad's mom is is buried in the Indian cemetery above the dam. I miss her dearly.

[@rmore935]

She had to be one hell of a woman that you speak so fondly of your stepdad's mom. Good for you to that.

[@cb2000a]

Both my grandfather and step grandfather worked on that dam. I grew up around that dam and have been places in it most will never see . There are no bodies in the concrete (it would make the concrete too weak). One story an old timer told me is about a concrete bucket crane operator who had a cable failure and the bucket landed on his son who was killed instantly.

[@BastetNoodles]

My grandfather came from PA to work on the dam. Sadly he was killed on the job. Is there any type of memorial for these men?

[@usmale4915]

Fantastic video! Thank you for sharing!

[@funtucsonman2838]

Extremely interesting as well as educational. Highly recommended.

[@jonstrande2074]

This by far a show of superior technology and workmanship than that of the three Gorges Dam.

[@scotcoon1186]

Today the permits would take 50 years.

[@Jezeppi1]

Nothing like this will ever be built in the USA again. Too many crazy lefties. 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@jaredhouston4223]

17:27 That banner might as well say, "You're fired before you hit the ground."

[@mickcarson8504]

LOL. How true 🙂👍

[@MrMAC8964]

construction jibe "your fired 1 sec before you hit the ground" , "dont fall humpty".

[@LadyAdakStillStands]

What strikes me is that every person you see is deceased, every piece of heavy equipment is obsolete.

[@chrisbraid2907]

Some heavy equipment is probably recycled and refurbished ....

[@spaceghost8995]

We still use many of those tools today!

[@SCW1060]

I have vacationed there many times and they have a laser light show on the side of the damn at dusk very cool

[@SCW1060]

@Rand Robinson yes Dam you got me lol

[@4june9140]

I stayed in a B&B in that street many years ago on a trip from England to the States and Canada with my late wife. It was a Hostel that housed engineers. Lovely couple ran it, the Lady was from the Philippines. Great visit and well worth the trip.

[@joshuakingsley5293]

I remember my parents took me to see the laser light show there at night when I was 3 (1992), which also happens to be one of my earliest memories.

[@juliezaremskiy3635]

Visited the dam yesterday, It's HUGE! It's a mile across but it's shear size makes it look so much smaller than it is.

[@cammontreuil7509]

A plug in the river that destroyed the greatest salmon run in history. 100 pound plus Chinook used to run this river. No effort was put to transplanting or preserving this magnificent run of fish.

[@BrucePerkins-mc3hp]

We not only built Grand Coulee, Bonneville, Hoover, dams, but we also Built the Golden Gate Bridge. All during the same decade. And before construction began, the insurance actuarial said that 13 men would lose Their lives during the build, but at the completion there were only 3 fatalities. And this in the era of no safety rules or Equipment in place. Guys were scrambling all over with no harnesses or OHSA. AND they brought it in under bidget and 18 months ahead of Schedule. FDR was a visionary who could the possibility of having to go fight a world war later on.

[@davidwait9625]

i love to find this ,so nice my grand father worked on the damm, i live here in coulee city.

[@izzojoseph2]

Those coffer dams are so critical. Easy to build but easy to screw up. Katrina flooding was because the construction company that built the coffee dam levee, didn’t drive the sheet metal all the way onto the hard soil. Water seeped under and blew the levee. Initially, inspection stated over topping which wore away the outside support but further inspection revealed negligence. Not sure what happened to the people responsible.

[@tjack49er]

My grandfather and great grandfather were electricians who worked on the power generation plant on grand coulee as well as granite dam. The photos were intriguing to me as a child, only later did I realize what a feat they were a part of.

[@BastetNoodles]

My grandfather (with his wife & 4 children) came from PA to work on the dam. Sadly, he died on the job. The photos of them while they lived there have always intrigued me.

[@firecloud77]

Loved that dam since I first visited it in the 60's. Back when the spillway ran almost nonstop.

[@Patrick_Cooper]

My Grandfather, was one of the first to deliver logs from the Cle Elum area, for the very beginning of it's construction. Kinda hoped I would catch a gimps of him in the video.

[@petem6846]

Great video! Wonderful project to be proud of.

[@steveswinney4251]

what did the salmon say when he hit cement wall................DAMN!

[@1Rotorwing]

FUNNY STUFF....Needed it, been a tuff day......

[@daleburrell6273]

WHO PUT THAT THERE?!!

[@SovereignStatesman]

DAM

[@hooknbookit]

Well i just woke up the wife laughing hysterically at 0130 lmao.

[@PhoenixLyon]

LOL Needed that. Coulee actually has a salmon ladder, though.✌😺

[@kevinbushey1879]

I’d have to say the 50s and 60s were the greatest in American plenty of work conditions were getting better and everyone could buy a car things were not bad and we still had a lot of pride in a great country we were pretty much all united now we’re pretty much a separate country now

[@paulscountry456]

Using the GI bill my uncles bought desert sageland sitting on 20 ft of the richest topsoil in the world,the Dam turned it to fertile paradise ....

[@jimdiehl1743]

@@paulscountry456😊😊

[@MrShobar]

Great story. Many thanks. At the signing of the Columbia River Treaty in 1964, (29:51) Sen. Henry M. Jackson of Washington is beside the desk, Vice President Hubert Humphrey is behind him. Sen. Warren G. Magnuson of Washington (wearing glasses) is at the center. He was instrumental in getting Grand Coulee built.

[@harryminter7935]

Great Documentary, Thanks!

[@NascarGal019]

This was very interesting to watch, never knew the history behind the construction of the Dam. Was surprised to see a familiar sight, the house shown at 6:11 was my Grandmothers house!

[@nathantodd7433]

Very nice filming and presentation

[@mikalchz]

oh sorry who cares???

[@TimothyMcAleeSrGeD]

@@mikalchz I care, YOU IDIOT! STOP being so DAM RUDE!

[@rocketman1969]

@@mikalchz We do man, don't be rude.

[@NascarGal019]

@@panamared3681 When did she live here? I went to school here, moved away for many many years and here I am back home again.

[@FSEVENMAN]

Jesus Christ what an absolute engineering Marvel.....

[@twstf8905]

Even though, as a Seattle native and lifelong resident, I've visited the Grand Coulee Dam so many times it was "old News" way back when I was a kid, I still love watching these old documentaries about it. The affect on the Native American population in the region is especially profound. Luckily, I suppose, Salmon, Trout, and Steelhead ladders have been installed in most of the Columbia River Gorge Dams, but definitely not nearly enough for schools to make it as far upstream as they used to. It's just another disappointing example of the trade-off between meeting energy needs and the inevitable environmental impact surrounding most projects on this scale. The Local Tribes need more than monetary compensation for what they've been expected to sacrifice so that European settlers and their descendants can enjoy the amenities they've carved out for themselves over the years. No, occasional isolated autonomous reservations and a tiny individual residual income aren't NEARLY enough restitution for what's been taken from them. Considering this is the only one that I've seen about the Grand Coulee Dam that even mentions the local Pacific Northwest Native American Tribes, i suppose it makes it one of the better documentaries I've seen on the subject. And, hopefully it will inspire enough of just the right kind of person to legislate some improvements for those unfortunate people caught in the wake of modern progress. Especially when they're known for being a population existing completely independent upon such technological progress. They don't need electricity, pavement, skyscrapers and vehicles. They need our unequivocal deference and respect. And the consideration they deserve for being the original stewards of this land we claim to love so much.

[@bobs6129]

You make it sound like there wasn't a lot of sacrifice made by so-called settlers and descendants and blood and lives lost and considering they got paid nothing to build it.

[@Gertieness]

​@@bobs6129 yep, there's always more than one perspective

[@ruthsigrah7704]

Visited this dam on March 2019...amazing

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

I'll probably get around to it sometime this summer. Was kinda weird, that I did Basketball Referee work all over Grant County INCLUDING in the town of Grand Coulee 2 years back, but never had the chance for a visit at that time - but I HAVE seen the Wanapum, Rock Island, and Rocky Reach dams (not sure on the Priest Rapids or Wells dams). I HAVE seen a lot of Banks Lake, US 2 crosses the dam at the south end of that then I had to take WA 155 up along the east side to get to Grand Coulee.

[@clayz1]

The dam supplied power to Hanford during and after WW2 for their atomic bomb work. They found a use for a lot of that power.

[@billolsen4360]

I heard that the actress who played Larry Mondelo's mom in Leave it to Beaver worked at the Hanford plant. Imagine that she found acting to be less pressure than bomb building.

[@clayz1]

Mike B Hansel is still thinking about that. He may have overstated it, but I bet not by that much.

[@andyharman3022]

And the government sure made a world-class toxic waste site at Hanford.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

Currently, that power gets exported as far away as California. As does some of the power from OTHER large power dams along the Columbia.

[@granskare]

I was born in 1938 in the UP of Michigan so too young for this but it is fabulous! Those guys on beams, amazing, when I was in the USAF, I fell into the pool.

[@andyharman3022]

The shot of those guys walking across the naked beams made me giddy. I'm no good with heights....

[@paullastloveland]

This is the spirit that made the American great. It was gone in the wind, unfortunately.

[@miamatti]

this spirit also fucked a lotta shit, so hold your horses pal

[@michelberard7496]

Great documentary

[@albertwipf3587]

Saw it for the first time yesterday never really heard of it but was amazed!! Nice documentary.

[@ConvairDart106]

Know what was more amazing? The HUGE salmon that used to migrate up there, for hundreds of thousand of years. All gone now, for what you call progress, with a growing population, and a dwindling food supply.

[@jamesdarnell8568]

@@ConvairDart106 You're just saying that so that Boeing would have less electricity and your beloved Convair would get more government contracts.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@jamesdarnell8568 Convair as such doesn't exist, and the chain it's gone since I lost track of after General Dynamics.

[@darrengall-ge8bg]

Beautiful, thank you.

[@brendawilli7763]

I enjoyed this. Very informative

[@Idahoguy10157]

The many 1930’s federal hydroelectric dam projects meant that aluminum production soared as tens of thousands of new aircraft were ordered. Aluminum production requires copious amounts of electricity

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

But sadly Alcoa shut that plant down (it's just a bit SouthEast of Wenatchee, south side of the river - I've driven by it a few times on WA 28) some years ago. They WERE talking about starting it back up, but have decided (so far) not to do so.

[@michaelgreenslade2161]

My families forgotten history. My grandfather was a meat cutter in Coulee City at the time of the Dam construction. And his future wife ran the Brothel in the mid 30's during the construction.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

Grandpa made a living but Granny made the MONEY!

[@mikewatte4478]

So both of them worked the meat all day

[@usmale4915]

@@mikewatte4478 ROTFLMAO!!! Very funny, indeed!

[@fasx56]

Well produced and Informative Documentary. Really Impressed with the Engineers and Planners, the construction in general of this Great Dam Project. Both the Hoover Dam and the Grand Coulee Dam had to have some of the most skilled and knowledgeable Engineers in the US working on this Dam, a Near Miracle in my thinking.

[@765kvline]

Used 287.5-kV power transmission (among other voltages), which was first used at Hoover Dam in 1936. Highest voltage in the world at the time.

[@1.gatuquan]

I was in the area half a dozen times, but never actually stopped by to see it in person. Gotta do that next time 😅

[@kenkeil9067]

Would sure like to see the return of salmon in tributaries of the Kootenay R. Heard that some have returned to the Okanagan R.WhenI was 11yr old , Icaught a sockeye spawning in Osoyoos L.,1951.

[@lewislinzy3437]

Yeah, those evil Devils in the government are really destroying everything they touch! It's like the "Midas thoch", turning OUR FOOD into THEIR MONEY! Most of US PEOPLE don't see ANY of the money either, only an irreversibly destroyed river. They NEVER WILL be able to bring back those giant king salmon that used to go up there because the run is now extinct. Only GOD can undo the evil damage they have done. (Revelation 11: 18)

[@philsergent1913]

I was born in Tacoma in 1956. We visited it many times. We, American's, can be proud of our heritage there. When it still meant something for anything to be "Made in American". Even now! Skeptical? Check out the the Three Gorges damn in China. 07/21/20

[@billolsen4360]

Those dam engineers knew what they were doing.

[@edwardmohs435]

wonderful thankyou

[@gfinnstrom]

ever noticed all the announcer on the old newsreels sound the same

[@chrisbraid2907]

Back then across the world there were standards and broadcasting stations kept to those standards in the interests of clarity

[@167curly]

A great project for America's North West!

[@christophertolhurst4918]

i love you. God bless with mercy and love All of the indians that lost their traditional living. Peace be with them. Love

[@jiminykripes4937]

We were such a can do country 100 years ago . Now we build heated sidewalks for the homeless to pee on. We've come a long way

[@TheSilmarillian]

They don't build em like that anymore hello from Australia

[@garrettpolhamus3733]

proud to be a Washington state citizen

[@trojan6530]

Loved this documentary....It felt nostalgic, as if i had seen it before, perhaps way back in my early school days... 6th or 7th grade and we had to pay attention because we would be quizzed after....lol....the good old days!!

[@skydiverclassc2031]

The short clip of the Woody Guthrie song is an unmentioned part of the story. Guthrie was hired by the Department of Reclamation to write songs in favor of the dam construction, in order to prop up support for it. Some of his best and most famous songs come from this period.

[@ninnghizhidda8654]

ARLO GUTHRIE bought a farm in western mass, and turned the 200 year old barn into his recording studio. My DAD was the last New England Farmer to cut, and bale the hay grown on that Farm, and put it up in that barn. JUST SAYING...... MY DAD WILL BE 87 ON JULY 1st. PLEASE WISH HIM WELL.

[@thomasbailey8306]

Great Video. Back when Americans WORKED TOGETHER.... And Our Government worked for our Welfare. EVERYBODIES....Its too bad we cant go back to this time. I know I would be first in line. I would rather deal with Depression then deal with what se are dealing with In todays Messed up Country.....Back then Men and Women took PRIDE in there work....Thank You for sharing ....

[@bobjackson4720]

Very impressive for its time.

[@freedomrocks7821]

Or any time for that matter.

[@laserbeam002]

This was back when America could, and would, do great things. we don't see much of that anymore. The country is so divided by our pethetic politicians and political activist...including the so called "news media" we can barely pass a budget.

[@themallard1515]

Well somebody had to say it, and you are exactly right. This country is capable of doing so much, but yet we choose to do so little. It’s sad how we’ve organized ourselves.

[@voyaristika5673]

Divide and conquer. Sad.

[@justiningram2380]

Back before the government decided it wanted to control everything

[@cyberGEK]

The fact that you fail to see the irony in your statement is the biggest problem in the country and creates the division you claim is caused by ‘others’ when you are here doing the exact same thing by using divisive language. Shame! (If you still have such a thing where you are)

[@laserbeam002]

@@cyberGEK I don't see anything ironic in my statement. When the Grand Coulee damn was built it would have taken ALL sides to agree on such a project. That is working together to get a job done and improve the country. Yes I think our politicians are pethetic. They use their positions as 'stepping stones' to further their careers. They only want to appeal to their hardcore supporters even though there is a vast middle ground of independents and moderates. And yes the news media fans the flames of division. Look at Fox and msnbc as two examples.

[@ViperLemondemon]

This video would give OSHA inspectors heart attacks

[@matthewbryant2735]

There was a sign hanging (near beginning of film) that said "accidents are your loss"

[@daleburrell6273]

@@matthewbryant2735 ...AND THAT'S THE TRUTH!!!

[@ronm2970]

Built on time and under budget. Could never happen today!

[@heatherpoole6174]

I understand that this was an amazing experience. That it could help so many Americans get jobs and, the experience of being a part of our Nation's History. It worked amazingly. But I must say that my heart broke when they mentioned that they asked the Natives to dig up there families and move them to higher ground. Didn't give it a second thought, remove your family which you thought would be there forever resting place and on top of that taking there land again and taking the fish away. It basically took away their existence. Be proud of all you ancestors, they did do an amazing job. And a lot of men lost their lives for this dam. I just wish they would have found out a better way. They took away the tradition and the food that the Native families dependent on. Sorry just had to put in what a lot of people haven't mentioned about, YES it did good things . Also remember that America wanted to have it the biggest and the first, instead of Russia. But wanting that, they had to remove something and that something was ,the Natives and there way of food. Could you imagine one day you have food, your land and traditions that have been a way of your and your ancestors lives for over a hundred years and it in one day it's been taken away from you. You have to find a new way. And to me there's something wrong about that .

[@jonyemm]

The natives always got the shitty end of the stick, to an extent. Most people forget that when a land was conquered or taken over by another group that the original residents would of been lucky to even survive, though those that did survive likely would if wished to of not.

[@Redmenace96]

@ 28:05 a Darren McGavin sighting!! One the greatest actors of all-time! The Night Stalker, lives!!!

[@bobdavis7192]

Very well done documentary. Thanks!

[@christopherbarker181]

Brilliant minds came together for the common good. To bad we seem to have lost the ideals that made this country great. Hard work...not gimme What I didn’t work for.

[@jimmypovilasphil]

To the natives and to salmon it was not a common good.

[@CRAZYHORSE19682003]

@@jimmypovilasphil To quote Spock, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one. THAT is the problem with this country today it is ass backwards where if you have 100 people and 99 are doing one thing that one finds offensive it is expected the 99 to stop doing it. We are under the tyranny of a tiny minority of people who get offended by EVERYTHING.

[@jimmypovilasphil]

@@CRAZYHORSE19682003 Beam me up!

[@lewislinzy3437]

@@CRAZYHORSE19682003 You picked the right name for yourself "shadow of death". Anyone who thinks that destroying an ecosystem is "good" had better consider his priorities. THAT'S EVIL!

[@jasontroy4723]

Fascinating .

[@ResidentialDirtWork]

Why is it we seemed smarter back then?

[@bobpaulino4714]

The more advanced we become, the further behind we truly are - -- -

[@oldschoolman1444]

Arrogance! =)

[@vinigretzky97]

we were. too much knowledge and technology hinders innovation and leads to superficial thinking.

[@bobs6129]

If you weren't smart back then you just didn't survive plain and simple you would have got killed in an accident or you would have starved it's just the truth you'd go to work work ridiculous amounts of hours and still have to come home and tend the garden and livestock for a lot of people.

[@barunyumlembam4451]

The most amazing documentary ever

[@rushedandlost]

We used to do Great things.

[@molly6483]

It's so sad that you are right

[@whitesapphire5865]

Unfortunately, the likes of Greenpeace and Greta Thunderface have seen to it that nothing on this scale will ever be built again, except perhaps in Russia or China etc where no one dares to challenge authority.

[@RelentlessDjango]

Americans love high quality, but on one wants to work hard. We rather other countries do the hard work, then we get upset about not having work or high paying jobs. Projects like this Dam are what kept Americans employeed.

[@bobs6129]

@@RelentlessDjango I think people forget these jobs were built more or less with slave wages. people nowadays could build the same things just don't allow them any food for a few months and let them watch their kids starve and you could build these great works again. they said people were jumping off the bridges and committing suicide during the depression it was so bad

[@rkciwart6955]

@@bobs6129 Give it time.

[@rustyshackleford3320]

This was a good Dam documentary .

[@n1mogator]

great doc! lot i didnt know at 75 years old so thanks!

[@johnhopkins6260]

...Now you know what 2.5 million horsepower looks like...

[@brianwinston8627]

17:30 sign says "Accidents are your loss" WOW! great motivation back then.... lol

[@seventhson27]

There was an old joke about a man hanging a curtain rod for his wife. He accidentally missed with the hammer and smashed his thumb. He bent over, holding his thumb and screamed, "GRAAND COULEEE!" His wife asked, "Why Grand Coulee?" He replied, "That is the biggest DAMN in the World!"