The Theodore Roosevelt Dam is located on the Salt River, northeast of Phoenix. The masonry dam was built between 1905 and 1911 and was renovated and expanded between 1989 and 1996. The dam is 357 feet high, with a hydroelectric generating capacity of 36,000kW. It was the first major project under the new federal law of 1902 - the Reclamation Act - which paved the way for irrigation projects to aid the arid western states’ settlement.
The dam sits at the confluence of Tonto Creek and the Salt River. The location of this narrow gorge was initially called “The Crossing” by early Arizona pioneers. It was the place on the Salt River where Native Americans, farmers, and ranchers would ford the river. The dam forms the artificial 21,500-acre Theodore Roosevelt Lake. The project’s primary purpose was to provide water storage and flood control through the Salt River Valley.
The dam is named after US President Theodore Roosevelt, who dedicated the dam on March 18, 1911. During the dedication speech, Roosevelt said that his administration’s two proudest achievements were the Reclamation Act and the Panama Canal.
In 1963, the Roosevelt Dam became a National Historic Landmark but withdrawn in 1999, the reason being the 1989 modifications had altered the original design’s integrity.
When my husband and I visited the area, we made a stop at the Roosevelt Dam and took in the imposing view. From the overlook, you can enjoy a closer view of the engineering wonder. Interpretive signs share history with visitors. There is a historic red sandstone building on site, once the home of the Bureau of Reclamation. Also visible is the two-mile-long Roosevelt Lake Bridge. To relocate traffic from traveling atop the Roosevelt dam, a steel arch bridge, Roosevelt Lake Bridge, opened in 1992. The bridge was painted blue to blend with the lake and sky.
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
Volcanoes and Emeralds
I've had the privilege to give lectures worldwide at shows, club meetings and retreats. I've also done videos and DVDs including Russian Gem Treasures, shot in Russia and another associated with the Smithsonian about American gem mines.
THE MAGIC OF MARBLE
Sculptors and architects have an abundance of natural stone materials to choose from alabaster, travertine, granite, limestone and soapstone to name a few. But one medium has always stood out - marble. For the last 2,500 years, marble has been chosen for many of the greatest works of sculpture and architecture, from the Parthenon of Classical Greece to Michelangelo's Pietà and Washington D.C.'s Lincoln Memorial.
COLOR-THERAPY Gemstones
Designing Jewelry Based on the Healing Properties of Colors
The Silver of POTOSI
Triumph, Tragedy & El Tío
CURVED RIDGES SHAPED TIPS
Complex carving with curved ridges and shaped tips can be daunting.
NIPOMO MARCASITE
Many of the digging locations for this marcasite are on private property. It was allowed at one point to collect with the owner's permission, but a few rockhounds ruined it for the rest by trespassing, trampling newly-grown crops, and opening and closing gates not allowing cattle to get to their water sources. As a result, this material hasn’t been dug for a few decades.”
PAIL Treasures!
From Gems to Fossils, Dig Them at Home
RV Rockhounding
ON THE ROAD WITH THAT CAMPING COUPLE
The Pleasures and Perils of Competitive Exhibiting
Competitive exhibiting offers lots of opportunities to earn awards through venues like club shows, county fairs, trade shows and Federation shows. Since 1995, I've been involved in competitive exhibiting from three perspectives: administering, judging and exhibiting. Here are my suggestions for best practices.
ULTIMATE Gift Guide FOR ROCKHOUNDS
What to Buy for the Rock Lover in Your Life
CLUTCHES & SHIFT LEVERS
A look at the 2022 Centerforce Adventure Run
Ancient Grains
From the arrival of Spanish missionaries to the present day, Arizona's climate has proved to be ideal for growing superior varieties of wheat, barley, smelt and oats.
TINY EPIC DUNGEONS
More Fun Faster!
An Arizona Adventure
The Earp brothers' trail from Prescott to Tombstone is a treasure trove of historic sites.
SK .22 LONG RIFLE LOADS
LOCK, STOCK & BARREL
Heart and Soul
Seek renewal and inner peace at Sedona’s L’Apothecary Spa.
Came Through Drippin
Most of the world relies on flood irrigation to water crops. A more efficient alternative hasn’t been widely adopted because it’s so expensive. One Israeli soil physicist has the answer: a tiny plastic widget
The Site Pushing the Big Lie About Arizona's Election Audit
The Gateway Pundit, which has a history of advancing promoting the audit in Maricopa County
FAMILIES URGE USING NEW DNA TECH TO ID PEARL HARBOR UNKNOWNS
William Edward Mann enlisted in the Navy after graduating from high school in rural Washington state. A guitar player, he picked up the ukulele while stationed in Hawaii.
Kyrsten Sinema – Shape Shifter
From Green Party rabble-rouser to Senate power broker, Kyrsten Sinema’s rise is a political fairy tale—and nightmare.