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American Experience

Grand Coulee Dam: Engineering Challenges

The engineering challenges became apparent as soon as construction got underway.

04/03/2012 | Rating NR

American Experience

Grand Coulee Dam: Engineering Challenges

Clip: Season 24 Episode 6 | 2m 46s

The engineering challenges became apparent as soon as construction got underway.

Thousands of men began arriving at the Grand Coulee Dam construction site in June 1933, enticed by the promise of jobs. Located hundreds of miles from the nearest big city, there was no easy way to get to the construction site. The dam would have to span beyond the width of the river -- almost a mile across -- and would need to rise 500 feet in the air to stop up the river to build the reservoir.

04/03/2012 | Rating NR

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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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Grand Coulee Dam - Preview

Preview: S24 Ep6 | 30s | Airs Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 8/7c. Check your local listings. (30s)

The Columbia Basin Project

Clip: S24 Ep6 | 1m 5s | In the spring of 1952, work was finally underway on the Columbia Basin Project. (1m 5s)

Diverting the Columbia River

Clip: S24 Ep6 | 2m 40s | The biggest challenge in building Grand Coulee Dam was diverting the flow of the Columbia. (2m 40s)

Grand Coulee Dam: Pouring the Concrete

Clip: S24 Ep6 | 1m 56s | It took millions of cubic yards of concrete to build Grand Coulee Dam. (1m 56s)

The Impact of Grand Coulee Dam

Clip: S24 Ep6 | 1m 13s | Grand Coulee Dam was dedicated in front of a crowd of 8,000 on March 22, 1941. (1m 13s)

Grand Coulee Dam Chapter 1

Clip: S24 Ep6 | 13m 16s | Premiering April 3, 2012 at 8/7c. Check your local listings. (13m 16s)

Grand Coulee Dam's Open Spillways

Clip: S24 Ep6 | 15s | This 15-second time-lapse video shows the Grand Coulee Dam's spillway closing. (15s)

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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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