On October 15, 1956, the first blast occurred and the construction of Glen Canyon Dam was officially underway.Before that date, the site was virtually inaccessible and
construction crews were forced to drive 200 miles to cross from one side of Glen Canyon to the other.
The remote location was selected for the project by a group of
Bureau of Reclamation engineers and geologist working from 1946 to 1948. The site met several criteria: the area forming the basin could contain an immense amount of water; the canyon
walls and bedrock foundation were strong and stable enough to safely support the high dam; and a large source of good rock and sand was available at nearby Wahweap Creek.
By 1959, the Glen Canyon Bridge was completed permitting the trucks to deliver equipment and materials for the dam and the new town of Page, Arizona.
The next year concrete placement began and continued night
and day until the final bucket was dumped three years later. A bucket held 24 tons of damp concrete and it took over 400,000 of them to build the dam. Over five
million cubic yards of concrete make up the dam and power plant -- that's equal to enough to build a four-lane highway stretching from Phoenix, Arizona to Chicago, Illinois. Construction began on
the 3,700 foot dam with blocks of concrete 7.5 feet high.
Next, turbines and generators were installed from 1963 to 1966. The dam was dedicated by
Ladybird Johnson on September 22, 1966. It took 17 years for Lake Powell to completely fill for the first time.
The plant generates more than 1.3 million kilowatts of electricity with each of the 40-ton steel shafts
turning at 150 rpm, generating nearly 200,000 horsepower. With all eight generators operating at full output, over 15 million gallons of water will pass through the power plant's penstocks each
minute. The electricity is upgraded on a transformer deck from 13,800 volts to 230,000 and 345,000 volts for transmission to distant markets.
The sparkling blue waters of Lake Powell are magnificently framed by towering rock formations and soaring red cliffs which surround the area for as far as the eye can see. There is truly nothing
like it anywhere on the planet. Each year millions of visitors, most from outside the United States, flock to the area to enjoy the breathtaking scenery and numerous water activities including boating,
water skiing, scuba diving and fishing.
The lake was created following the construction of Glen Canyon
Dam, a decade-long project beginning in 1956, and named for Major John Wesley Powell, a civil-war veteran and explorer.
Lake Powell stretches from the Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona up
the Colorado River through Utah, past the San Juan confluence to Hite for a total of 186 miles. Including the numerous flooded canyons, Lake Powell has more than 2,000 miles of shoreline,
more than the entire west coast of the United States.
Although the sheer size of this body of water and the close proximity to many national parks draws visitors to its shores, it
may be the rugged landscape and the surprising stillness of the area that keeps them coming back for more. Other than the National Park Service authorized concessionaire, you won't find
the hotels, restaurants or other businesses choking the shoreline and destroying the views. Except for Wahweap Lodge and Marina, hotels and shopping can be found only in
neighboring Page, Arizona, just 10 minutes by automobile from the lodge.
Prior to the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam, the mighty
and muddy Colorado River dominated that area. Deemed the most treacherous waterway in the northern hemisphere, the river meandered through Utah and Arizona, cutting its way through the
soft sandstone to the floor some 700 feet below. Major Powell, one of the most famous early explorers, began his river journey at Green River City in Wyoming down to the mouth of the Virgin
River in Arizona near the Grand Canyon. Powell conducted the first scientific and geological survey of the canyon in 1869.
Before Powell's expedition, Lt. Joseph C. Ives led a party through the area in 1858, commenting in his diary, "Ours has been the first and will undoubtedly be the last party to visit this profitless
locality. It seems intended by nature that the Colorado River, along the greater portion of its lonely and majestic way, shall be forever unvisited and undisturbed."
Today visitors will see a lake teeming with activity as recreation enthusiasts explore the secrets of Powell by houseboat, jet boat, personal watercraft or even diving. Even with thousands of people
enjoying the bounty of recreational opportunities, Lake Powell never seems crowded. There is always a deserted sandy cove or hidden canyon just around the corner.
A 50-mile run from Wahweap will take you to Rainbow Bridge, a stone arch spanning 275 feet and rising more than 290 feet. La Gorce Arch is another natural rock formation 100 feet wide and 75
feet high located in the Escalante Arm at Davis Gulch.
Other surprises await the patient explorer, including ancient Native American petroglyphs and
ruins. Even the names inspire adventure: Hidden Passage, Anteater Arch, Whirlwind Mine, Lost Eden Canyon and hundreds more.
On October 15, 1956, the first blast occurred and the construction of Glen Canyon Dam was officially underway.