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American Experience

The Columbia Basin Project

In the spring of 1952, work was finally underway on the Columbia Basin Project.

04/03/2012 | Rating NR

American Experience

The Columbia Basin Project

Clip: Season 24 Episode 6 | 1m 5s

In the spring of 1952, work was finally underway on the Columbia Basin Project.

In the spring of 1952, work was finally underway on the Columbia Basin Project, a huge system of canals, tunnels, and aqueducts that would flow out of the Grand Coulee reservoir. The irrigation system carried water from Grand Coulee Dam to 66,000 acres of farmland. By 2012, the acreage increased more than ten fold to 671,000.

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)

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: Engineering Challenges

Clip: S24 Ep6 | 2m 46s | The engineering challenges became apparent as soon as construction got underway. (2m 46s)

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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