Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Sites

The CCC first arrived at the park in 1933. Quarters were soon built for 250 CCC boys. The CCC would help build "trails, bridges, camps, shelter, and more." (https://friendofindianadunes.org/historic-page/) The CCC also built roads, gatehouses and other facilities. "A CCC camp was located at the site of Dunes Creek upstream from the Pavilion. The Company 556 was at Dunes for a short while before being moved to Pokagon State Park as Company 1563. Wilson Shelter is one of their projects. Other projects of theirs, such as the Group Camps, have been removed. A flag pole near the Nature Center is from the...

The Wilson Shelter is located at the Indiana Dunes State Park. The shelter was completed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers in 1935. The style of the shelter is classified as Parks Rustic.

"With its dependable water source, abundant fish and game, and natural beauty, the region of Central Texas around the Colorado River and present Inks Lake has been an inviting location for centuries, attracting Native American and German and Anglo settlers. In 1937 while running as a candidate for the surrounding Congressional district, Lyndon Baines Johnson promised voters that he would create a “Tennessee Valley Authority” type of transformation for the Colorado River, including dams for flood control and electricity, bridges and highways, and recreational facilities along the river. Johnson’s victory soon brought into being the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA)...

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) developed the International Peace Garden during the 1930s.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) built facilities and completed structural improvements at Interstate State Park in Taylors Falls, Minnesota. “The ten CCC/WPA/Rustic Style historic resources at Interstate State Park are included in two historic districts: a six-acre area known as Glacial Gardens and a 22-acre campground. The park buildings and structures were constructed of local basalt stone, which was probably quarried near the boundary of the park at a site where Highway 8 cut through a section of rock in 1931. A CCC crew may have quarried the stone for the WPA. Architects for the...

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) developed a road "over Ione Summit" in Nye County, Nevada, ca. 1937. The road is likely Nevada State Route 844.

Iowa Lakeside Laboratory was built by CCC Camp BFI in 1936 in the vicinity of Milford IA. It is still serving as a laboratory. 

"The Iron Springs Dam was constructed circa 1933 by members of the 3767th Company of the Arkansas CCC District stationed at the Hollis and Jessieville Camps, both of which were also located on State Highway 7, to the north and south of the Iron Springs Roadside Park, respectively.  It was constructed as part of a small, public recreational complex within the Ouachita National Forest (ONF) as a result of the CCC's emphasis upon recreational construction.  The extant historic structures within this complex include only this dam and two shelters (nominated separately), all of which allowed the area to function purely...

"The Bureau of Reclamation utilized the manpower of two Civilian Conservation Corps camps, BR13A and BR74A, to create a system of irrigation canals for the farming community of Yuma. Between 1939 and 1941 enrollees cleared 59 miles of right-of-way, constructed canals, laterals, and headgates, and performed rodent control and landscaping. Today Ferguson Lateral is a tangible example of CCC work that still enables water managers to direct water. Although the farms have moved to the outskirts of Yuma, the canals, laterals, and headgates remain. Homeowners may still access the laterals to water their yards. The canals are stocked with fish...

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) had a camp at Steamboat Creek from 1933 to 1941.  The enrollees made many improvements around area in Umpqua National Forest, working under the US Forest Service, including campgrounds, trails and bridges. One of the campgrounds developed by the CCC was Island Campground along the North Umpqua River and Highway 138.  It is a small, plain campground without special features.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) enrollees from the Mt. Elden Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp near Flagstaff worked at Walnut Canyon National Monument from 1938 to 1942.  The most important contribution made by the CCC men was construction of the Island Trail, which descends the cliff behind the visitors center and encircles a promontory ("island") in the canyon to allow visitors to view the ruins up close.  The trail is about one mile long and descends almost 200 feet via 273 steps.  The trail is lined with stone and, in many places, rock support walls were required. The Island Trail was quite elegantly...

"In August 1935, the the first members of Company 2699 of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) arrived on Isle Royale... The CCC, made up of very young men, spent seven summers as the manpower that constructed much of the young park's infrastructure. They built the park headquarters on Mott Island, created boat campgrounds, and improved the few resorts that the park service had selected to retain. They also erected a fire tower and constructed miles of trails."

Between 1933 and 1942, relief workers stationed at two Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps and one Works Progress Administration (WPA) camp carried out extensive development of Itasca State Park at the headwaters of the Mississippi River.  They constructed 45 buildings in the Rustic Style, and myriad other structures, as well as creating campgrounds, picnic areas and a trail system. Buildings were constructed under the supervision of the Minnesota Central Design Office of the National Park Service and Edward W. Barber and V. C. Martin were the principal architects. According to the Minnesota Historical Society “Log construction was generally used because timber...

"The Forest Inn is one of the largest buildings constructed by the CCC in the state park system, with overall dimensions of 144-foot by 50-foot. The T-shaped combination building features both split stone and log construction and is covered by an intersecting gable roof supported by log rafters and purlins. The principal facade includes a central entrance as well as north and south wings. The entrance projects from the main facade and is flanked by massive 7-foot by 7-foot-6-inch stone pylons. The north wing consists of a split stone wall which rises to the sill level with 13-inch to 14-inch horizontal...

Starting in 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed a 44-foot dam, comprised of “40,000 cubic yards of fill” and “topped with stepping-stones, across the headwaters of the Mississippi River.”  It is not clear exactly when the job was completed. The dam did not create Itasca Lake but did stabilize the lake level and better define the outfall, which had previously made its way through dense riparian vegetation.  The CCC men also built the first wooden sign at the site, since replaced by a vertical sign. Over the years, foot traffic and shifting stream flow eroded the stepping stones and banks, so...

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed Itasca State Park’s Old Timer’s Cabin in 1933-1934.  It was the first structure built at the park by the CCC. This rectangular log cabin with gabled roof ranks is composed of logs so large that “just four of them made an entire wall.”  The logs were hand-shaped from downed trees, but the idea was to remind people of what the northern American forest was like before the age of mass timbering in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The CCC conducted substantial development work at J. W. Wells State Park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula: they constructed roads, signs, kiosks, a pump house, a comfort station, a laundry facility, a bath house, Bay Stone Lodge (was staff residence), cabins, and trail shelters.

Originally a lumber shed adjacent, and sawmill building nearby. A long concrete foundation remaining may have been one of these. A 1935 photo shows a building where the foundation is. About 750’ N of the barn is a ruin- a concrete basement of seemingly 1930s vintage. Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1934.

Completely overgrown ruins- primarily concrete foundations, some breaks, built-up roadways lived with pines, and a large stone chimney and stone/concrete foundation. Occupied by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Co. 1556, 1933 to 1940.

Concrete foundation, wood shingles. Built in 1935 by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) as a museum building, constructed with logs from an old cabin (furnished by Jackson Co Historical Society), the Peter’s house, that had stood in the vicinity of Vallonia.

Historic shelter house in process of being completely rebuilt-essentially only the stone fireplaces. Constructed between 1934 and 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Co 1556 occupied in the forest.

The Civilian Conservation Corps built the Oven Shelter in the Jackson-Washington State Forest in Indiana in 1934. “This oven shelter in Jackson-Washington State Forest, featuring two fireplaces ovens and grills, was a typical New Deal-era structure in picnic groves.  The entire picnic grove is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.” Hipped roof, wood shingles. Oak grove planting is part of site- uniform age. 2 hiking trails start from the site. Unusually intact picnic grove with all usual elements.

Impounded nearly circle pond of approx. ¾ acre. Overflow outlet at Southeast. Intended to display aquatic plantings cypress trees line the far edge on the north and west. Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1935.

Approx. 7 acre. lake, impounded by earth dam with small concrete overflow outlet. Small hip-roof frame structure. The two structures below the dam comprised a filter plant. Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1934.

Concrete foundation, gabled roof. Historic photo indicates there was a 6th garage door south of present office entrance. Dormers originally flat-roofed. Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1934.

Concrete foundation, wood shingles, gabled. Two stone fireplace chimneys. 1934 scratched in mortar in floor. Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).

Company 1811 of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed the High Park Fire Lookout in 1942. It is a typical Forest Service design of the time, made of stone and wood. The lookout was staffed with paid fire watchers until the late 1970s, but is no longer in active use. It is today a popular recreation spot for visitors to Bighorn National Forest. The High Park Fire Lookout was renamed after James Torrey Saban in 2015 to commemorate his service as a Forest Ranger and foreman in the CCC. He died while fighting the 1937 Blackwater Fire. The lookout was placed on the National...

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built improvements within the picnic area from 1936-1938. The CCC constructed two shelters and a well. The well still remains and is commonly referred to as the "wishing well."

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed a duck pond between 1934-35. The round lake is approximately 1 acre surrounded by concrete posts. In the center of the lake is a round island with stone lining.

These structures were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) between 1933 and 1934.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) did the initial development of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in the 1930s.  The major CCC contribution was the Jedediah Smith campground, which is just off state highway 199 west of the village of Hiouchi. The campground includes an amphitheater (called the Campfire Center) for ranger presentations to visitors.  It sits next to the small visitors' center in the campground. The Campfire Center contains a dozen or so banks of seats, carved from whole redwood logs and arranged in a semi-circle. It has a stone campfire pit, a modern chalkboard/screen, and a stone drinking fountain.  Because...

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) did the initial development of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in the 1930s.  The major CCC contribution was the Jedediah Smith campground, which is just off state highway 199 west of the village of Hiouchi. Engbeck (2002) notes that, "CCC Company 1903, of Camp Prairie Creek, built a new entrance road and a park custodian's residence. They built a campground near the Smith River with a footbridge over the river, connecting the campground with the ancient redwoods of the Stout Grove. The campground included tables, stoves, cupboards, and restrooms." The large campground is still there and in...

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) did the initial development of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in the 1930s. The area where the CCC did its work is along state highway 199, just west of the village of Hiouchi and a few miles east of Crescent City, California.  This remains the only significantly developed part of this large park, with its many groves of enormous, first-growth redwoods, such as Stout Grove. Engbeck (2002) notes that, "CCC Company 1903, of Camp Prairie Creek, built a new entrance road and a park custodian's residence. They built a campground near the Smith River with a...

"Jefferson Lake State Park was developed on 962 acres in the valley of the Town Fork of Yellow Creek. Land acquisition began in 1928. The lake and other facilities were constructed by the National Park Service in cooperation with the old Ohio Division of Conservation as a project of the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. The dam was constructed in 1934 and the 17-acre lake was filled in 1946. In 1950, the area was turned over to the newly created Division of Parks and Recreation."

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed Jensen Point in 1939, overlooking Route 66. The park closed to the public in the 1990s and reopened in 2016.

Among the work undertaken by C.C.C. Camp Filley was "building 23 miles of truck trails including Jericho Road and Cedar Swamp Road."

With establishment of the Emergency Conservation Work (ECW) program in 1933, better know as the Civilian Conservation Corp. (CCC) resources became available to develop facilities for the park. Civilian Conservation Corp. Co. 553 SP-16 arrived at John Bryan in June 1935 to begin six years of work.  The men laid out roads and blazed miles of trails (including the Pittsburgh–Cincinnati Stagecoach Trail preserving portions of a 19th century wagon-road). Also, enrollees built two foot-bridges across the Little Miami River.  One bridge featured a dam that, when closed, created a “swimming hole.” The workers also erected the park office, two picnic...

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) completed reforestation and improvement work at the John Henry Kirby Memorial State Forest. The work included tree planting and timber stand improvement—a forest management method that supports tree growth. The CCC also built a residence, park roads and bridges, fire breaks, and a fire lookout tower. The John Henry Kirby Memorial State Forest was founded in 1929, when lumber baron John Henry Kirby donated 639 acres of land to the Texas Forest Service. When the land was deeded to the State of Texas, the forest on the property had been cut off. The CCC's work sought to remedy the impact of intensive...

“In 1930, the Henderson Audubon Society requested $100,000 from the Federal government to help construct an Audubon Museum. The Society had a large and growing collection of Audubon artifacts that needed proper housing. National interest in the works of Audubon had increased through the years and now seemed the right time to involve the government in helping preserve and promote the Audubon collection. A bill introduced in Congress to appropriate money for the Audubon project failed to pass. Undeterred, local citizens continued to raise funds for the proposed museum. By 1934, 275 acres had been acquired through donations and purchase....

Lehman Caves National Monument was established in 1922 and put under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service in 1933. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) arrived in 1934, setting up a camp and going to work on improvements to make the monument more welcoming for visitors. One of their tasks was to construct part of the Johnson Lake Trail.  We have no information on what other trails the CCC enrollees built in the park. The monument was incorporated into a new Great Basin National Park in 1986.