Ground breaking on the dam started on July 16, 1933 and officially completed on January 31, 1943. Approximately 8,800 people worked on the project at it's peak. The payroll for the dam was among the largest in the nation. The Bureau of Reclamation Histories employment figures from 1933 to 1939 put the total man-hours at 37,000,119 and compensation at $34,650,244 - an average of $.93 per hour! Construction conditions were dangerous and 77 workers died. Women were allowed to work only in the dorms and the cookhouse.
After Work
In Honor of All Those Who Worked at Grand Coulee Dam
Dedicated July 4, 1999
Made by Rich Beyer and Steve Love
Note: Information about the dam's workforce came from many different sources on the web. While it is easy to find information about the dam itself, I had to do some digging to find out more about the people who built it.
