The Wild River and the Great Dam: The Construction of Hoover Dam and the Vanishing Colorado River

Synopsis

Discover the complicated history behind the construction of Hoover Dam—one of the country’s most recognizable and far-reaching landmarks—and its lasting political and environmental effects on the Colorado River and the American West.

At the time of its completion in 1936, Hoover Dam was the biggest dam in the world and the largest feat of architecture and engineering in the country—a statement of national ambition and technical achievement. It turned the wild Colorado River into a tame and securely managed water source, transforming millions of acres of desert into farmland while also providing water and power to the fast-growing population of the Southwest. The concrete monolith quickly became a symbol of American ingenuity; however, its history is laden with contradiction. It provided work for thousands, but it was a dangerous project that exploited desperate workers during the Depression. It helped secure the settlement and economies of the Southwest, but at the expense of Indigenous peoples and the environment; and it created a dependency on the Colorado River’s water, which is under threat from overuse and climate change.

Weaving together elements of engineering, geography, and political and socioeconomic history, and drawing heavily from unpublished oral histories taken from dam workers and their families, Simon Boughton’s thoughtful and compelling debut—featuring historical photographs throughout—follows the construction and impact of Hoover Dam, and how its promise of abundance ultimately created a river in crisis today.

Copyright:

2024

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

ISBN-13:

9780316380959

Related ISBNs:

9780316380744

Publisher:

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Date of Addition:

03/12/24

Copyrighted By:

Simon Boughton

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

History, Children's Books, Nonfiction, Technology, Earth Sciences

Grade Levels:

Fourth grade, Fifth grade, Sixth grade, Seventh grade, Eighth grade, Ninth grade

Reading Age:

9–14

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.