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The Wild River and the Great Dam: The Construction of Hoover Dam and the Vanishing Colorado River
By Simon Boughton
Edition
By Simon Boughton
Hardcover edition
Publisher Hachette Book Group Imprint Christy Ottaviano Books ISBN9780316380744
The Wild River and the Great Dam: The Construction of Hoover Dam and the Vanishing Colorado River
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SKU
9780316380744J
Discover the fascinating history behind the construction of Hoover Dam—and its lasting political and environmental effects on the Colorado River and the American west—in this propulsive nonfiction exploration of one of the country’s most recognizable and far-reaching landmarks.
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Weaving together elements of engineering, geography, and political and socioeconomic history, and drawing heavily from unpublished oral histories taken from dam workers and their families, Simon Boughton’s thoughtful and compelling debut—featuring historical photographs throughout—follows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.
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.
Standard MARC Records Cover Art |
Nonfiction History (Grades 6-8)
Series Nonfiction History Grades 6-8
Nonfiction History (Grades 6-8)
For Grades 6-8
Middle-school readers interested in historical people, places, and events will enjoy these 12 thoughtful, factual books, which explore significant topics.
12 books per Year
$312.24 per Year
Interests
Biographies, Diversity, History, Nonfiction