Completion Year: 1941

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) made extensive improvements to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park on the central California coast, developing it for public recreational use. The state parks commission acquired the land in 1933, but had no funds for development.  The CCC worked in the park from 1933 to 1941, but the sources do not always specify exact dates for each improvement.  The CCC enrollees built a lovely home for the park warden (head ranger) near the entrance to the park. It is constructed in classic "park rustic" style with a stone foundation and craftsman wood structure above.   Next door stands...

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) made extensive improvements to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park on the central California coast, developing it for public recreational use. The state parks commission acquired the land in 1933, but had no funds for development.  The CCC worked in the park from 1933 to 1941, but the sources do not always specify exact dates for each improvement.  The most important building constructed by the CCC enrollees is the Big Sur Lodge, which still stands just inside the main entrance to the park. The front portion of the building has been replaced, however, making the lodge appear...

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) made extensive improvements to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park on the central California coast, developing it for public recreational use. The state parks commission acquired the land in 1933, but had no funds for development.  The CCC worked in the park from 1933 to 1941, but the sources do not specify exact dates for each improvement.  CCC enrollees added a piped water system to the park to serve the campgrounds, picnic areas, restrooms, and park buildings, as well as providing fire protection. The water system appears to still be functioning, with many intact stone drinking fountains, brass...

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) made extensive improvements to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park on the central California coast, developing it for public recreational use. The state parks commission acquired the land in 1933, but had no funds for development.  The CCC worked in the park from 1933 to 1941, but the sources do not specify exact dates for each improvement.  CCC enrollees built three picnic areas (A, B and C) beyond the main campground. These feature picnic tables with stone bases and some stone cook stoves, as well as  and C two large picnic shelters,  a barbecue pit, and a...

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) made extensive improvements to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park on the central California coast, developing it for public recreational use. The state parks commission acquired the land in 1933, but had no funds for development.  The CCC worked in the park from 1933 to 1941, but the sources do not specify exact dates for each improvement.  CCC enrollees built a campfire center, or amphitheater, close to the entrance to the park and accessed from day-use parking lot #1.  It features split-log bench seating, a wooden stage, a stone fire circle and two stone drinking fountains.   The...

The Works Progress Administration built the James M. Shields Memorial Gymnasium in Seymour IN. Former high school gymnasium, now (February 2023) all but abandoned by a private owner. Perennial presence on Indiana Landmarks' Ten Most Endangered list.

The Sepulveda Dam in Van Nuys, California (in the San Fernando Valley) was constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1941 as part of an enormous flood-control project on the Los Angeles River, following the latest major flood on the river in January 1934.  The work was done under the auspices of a general flood risk management plan and contract between the Army Corps of Engineers, the Los Angeles County Flood Control District (LACFCD), and the WPA to deal with flooding on the three main rivers in Los Angeles County. According to the Army Corps of Engineers, "The flood of...

Grace Rivet Clements and Helen Lundeberg painted two 18' by 33' frescoes for Venice High School (Los Angeles, CA) in 1941: “History of Southern California” and “History of Early California.”  The frescoes were funded by the WPA Federal Art Project (FAP) and the artists were assisted by Aurel J. Leitner, Edwin T. Emery, Miriam Farrington, and Serena Swanson.  The two murals are located in the school library. Sylvia Moore writes that the frescoes "narrate the history of California in unrelated vignettes that seem to float across the walls of the library. On the east wall is the History of Early California,...

As noted on the sign for the Northern Great Basin Experimental Range today, the research station was "established in 1936, (and) dedicated to research on the ecology and management of rangelands." At its inception, the research facility was known as the Squaw Butte Federal Range Experiment Station. The project was a joint effort of the Grazing Service of the Department of Interior and researchers from Oregon State University to address issues of range and livestock management. The federal Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 had brought Western public domain lands together in an effort to stabilize the livestock industry and improve range...

In the  winter of 1935, members of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) #1629 began construction of camp administrative and barracks buildings near Squaw Butte to facilitate CCC work related to the 16,000 acre Squaw Butte Federal Experimental Range Station. Today some of those building survive to support work at the North Great Basin Experimental Range Station and continued research on the ecology and  management of rangelands. CCC Company #2504 arrived in October 1936 to further the work associated with the Squaw Butte Experiment Station and its efforts to improve grazing conditions in this very dry, sagebrush area of Harney County, Oregon. The...