Bald Creek Elementary School Gymnasium – Burnsville NC

The Bald Creek Elementary School and accompanying gym were constructed in 1938 with the assistance of the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA).

Bald Eagle Hill Children’s Health Camp (former) – Washington DC

The Bald Eagle Hill Children’s Health Camp was built in 1936-1937 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) for children suffering from tuberculosis. The camp’s address was 4900 Nichols Avenue SE, which is now Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.  The camp… read more

Baldwin Drive – New Haven CT

With funding from the Civil Works Administration (CWA), the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), and, later, the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the City of New Haven CT was able to construct a parkway from West Rock Park to a location… read more

Ballard Bridge Reconstruction – Seattle WA

In 1937 the Seattle City Council passed an ordinance authorizing work to begin on reconstructing the bridge. The job took a year and a half and replaced the timber approaches with approaches of concrete and steel that featured ornamental lighting…. read more

Ballentine Park Improvements – Norfolk VA

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) funded and provided labor for an improvement and beautification program in Norfolk’s Ballentine Park in 1937. The WPA allocated $12, 836 for the project with the city adding an additional $4,884. “The project call[ed] for… read more

Ballfield – Middleborough MA

WPA Bulletin, 1937: “The sharp crack of wood meeting horsehide will dedicate the completion of a baseball diamond being built by WPA on land bequeathed the city by Thomas S. Pierce.”

Baltic Avenue Paving – Atlantic City NJ

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) resurfaced Atlantic City’s Baltic Avenue in 1936. “One of the tracks will be removed from that thoroughfare, new gutters will be laid and the street resurfaced with asphalt, the same as Atlantic avenue.” “Twelve… read more

Baltic School (Former) – Baltic SD

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the Baltic School in Baltic SD. The structure served as a public school. Its current use is unknown. A building plaque reads: “WPA project number 3883.”

Baltimore City College Athletic Field – Baltimore MD

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked to construct a athletic field at Baltimore City College. Maryland WPA Project #15.

Baltimore National Cemetery – Baltimore MD

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the land that is now Baltimore National Cemetery was once called the Cloud Capped Estate: “Conversion of the Cloud Capped estate to a national shrine was the responsibility of the War Department,… read more

Bancroft Park Band Shell – Colorado Springs CO

Bancroft Park in Colorado Springs is still widely used. The bandstand is still in good condition. There are several Pickle Ball courts that are still in use. Previously, there was a large lake that was (probably) constructed by WPA employees. You can still… read more

Band Shell – Lindsborg KS

“The Band Shell built as a WPA project in 1935 sets as a centerpiece on the east side of Swensson Park. Many times during the year, you can experience concerts, special performances, and 50 years of local Broadway RFD outdoor… read more

Bandon History Museum (former Bandon City Hall) – Bandon OR

Bandon’s History Museum occupies a structure built by Work Progress Administration (WPA) workers to house the community’s City Hall. After the destruction of the town in the Bandon Fire of September 26, 1936, priority was given to constructing a new… read more

Bandshell – Laramie WY

“Residents of Laramie are probably familiar with the large concrete semi-dome that anchors the southwest corner of Washington Park. The Edgar J. Lewis bandshell has become a staple in the community as Laramie’s only public outdoor stage. It is a… read more

Bandshell – Lingle WY

The bandshell in Lingle Town Park, a.k.a. Whipple Park, was constructed by the Work Projects Administration (W.P.A.) in 1941-2.

Bandshell (former) and Landscaping – Abilene KS

“The existing bandshell was constructed in 1992 to replace and earlier building constructed in 1934. The City received CWA funds to construct the original bandshell adjacent to the stadium in the fairgrounds park. It burned in 1992 and was replaced… read more

Bangor Dam, Fish Spillway (demolished) – Bangor ME

The Bangor dam “was built on the site of Treat Falls in 1875. It [was] about 1,006 feet long with 800 feet of timber crib spillway and 200 feet of concrete spillway on the easterly end. The timber spillway being… read more

Bangor International Airport – Bangor ME

 Created in 1927 as a commercial airport named Godfrey Field. In 1940 the Maine State Defense Commission considered 6 airports priority for use as military bases, Bangor being a key one. A 1940 Maine State Legislature report records that construction… read more

Banigan City School (demolished) Improvements – Millville MA

The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (F.E.R.A.) and/or Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) funded the labor for and materials for improvements to the since-demolished Banigan City School building in Millville, Massachusetts. Improvements included painting, for which the federal government also paid for… read more

Banita Creek Bridge – Nacogdoches TX

Constructed in 1941, with WPA labor, the Banita Creek Bridge crosses the waterway of the same name with three spans of reinforced concrete girder. The 100’-long bridge has a 24’-wide roadway with cantilevered sidewalks on both sides. The hand railing… read more

Banks High School Athletic Fields – Banks OR

“During the Great Depression the Works Progress Administration paid for work on the school’s athletic fields, with the project completed in 1936.”   (wikipedia.org)

Banks Street Sidewalks – New Orleans LA

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed sidewalks in New Orleans, including along Banks Street in Mid-City. WPA workers often marked their work with “sidewalk stamps” pressed into the fresh concrete — a common practice by private contractors in the early… read more

Banneker Playground – Brooklyn NY

“Banneker Playground is named in honor of Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806), a noted African-American writer and mathematician… This playground is located on Marcy Avenue between Kosciusko Street and Lafayette Avenue. The site was formerly owned by the Board of Transportation, which… read more

Banneker Recreation Center Development – Washington DC

During the 1930s, Banneker Recreation Area was developed as part of a larger Capital Parks improvement program undertaken by the Public Works Administration (PWA), Civil Work Adminstration (CWA), Works Progress Administration (WPA), and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Notably, the CWA was… read more

Banner School (demolished) – Guthrie OK

“Banner School, constructed in 1935, was one of the 825 schools constructed in Oklahoma by the Works Progress Administration. Banner School is located at 1124 W. Warner in northwest Guthrie. The school was constructed in 1935 by the WPA. Unlike… read more

Banning High School – Banning CA

Evidence of Works Progress Administration (WPA) involvement in the former Banning High School building, now Nicolet Middle School, comes from a non-copyrighted pamphlet with no clear title or page number, that was handed out at the 2005 all-class reunion of… read more

Banyan Tree Park Improvements – Lahaina HI

The WPA worked on several projects in Lahaina, Maui. The plaque pictured here is in downtown Lahaina’s Banyan Tree Park.

Barclay House – Oregon City OR

Currently serving as the National Park Service’s administrative office for the Fort Vancouver – McLoughlin House Unit, the Dr. Forbes Barclay House shares more than proximity with its better-known neighbor (the McLoughlin House). The two structures not only housed important… read more

Barham Blvd Street Improvement – Los Angeles CA

“Work Project No. 9373, sponsored by the City of Los Angeles is a heavy travelled major traffic artery and extends northerly from Ventura Boulevard to communities in the northern section of of the San Fernando Valley. “Prior to its improvement… read more

Barking Sands Pacific Military Range Facility Improvements – Kekaha HI

Barking Sands Pacific Missile Range Facility is a U.S. Naval Installation on the Island of Kauai in Hawaii. Between 1941 and 1942 WPA funds helped enlarge the facility.

Barksdale Air Force Base – Bossier City LA

“WPA workmen improved 15 miles of gravel roads, 25 miles of dirt roads, cleared 15 miles of bayous and drainage canals, rehabilitated 43 wooden bridges which cross bayous and drainage canals on the reservation.”   (NARA)

Barnaby Street NW Improvements – Washington DC

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) improved a segment of Barnaby Street NW, from Utah Avenue to Arcadia Place. This was a WPA curb and gutter project: “This project was 1,200 feet long and serves the recent developments in this vicinity.”

Barnard Park Improvements – Goffstown NH

Municipal reports from 1935 and 1936 detail WPA work in Barnard Park: 1935 “WPA workers are engaged in making the pond into a more suitable bathing place. They also intend to finish the second tennis court which was begun last… read more

Barnstable Airport Improvements – Hyannis MA

“In 1940, leading up to World War II, the federal WPA program improved the airport for possible use by our armed forces.” WPA project details: “Construct and extend runways” Official Project Number: 165‐1‐14‐308 Total project cost: $563,018.00 Sponsor: Board of… read more

Barre Street Improvements – Montpelier VT

Montpelier’s 40th Annual Report details many roadwork projects undertaken in 1934 with Vermont Emergency Relief Administration (VERA) funds, including: “Barre Road, widening at Jerue turn”. Efforts were continued in subsequent years by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). 1939 Montpelier annual… read more

Barretts School – Manchester MO

When constructed by the WPA in 1937-39, Barretts Elementary School was a two room school built of limestone. The school has been extended several times since then, but the original WPA construction is still used as the school kindergarten today.

Barrier Canyon Mural – Price UT

A portion of Lynn Fausett’s  Barrier Canyon mural hangs in the Prehistoric Museum at Utah State University Eastern. It is part of an enormous, 82-foot canvas painting done by Fausett in 1940 under the auspices of the Works Projects Administration… read more

Barrier Canyon Mural, Natural History Museum of Utah – Salt Lake City UT

The largest portion of Lynn Fausett’s WPA-funded Barrier Canyon mural hangs at the back of the entry hall of the University of Utah Museum of Natural History at the eastern flank of the University of Utah campus (a smaller portion… read more

Barstow-Daggett Airport Expansion – Daggett CA

“Early in 1941, prior to American involvement in the war, $389,000 was allocated to enlarge the Daggett airport. The increase in size of the airport was to support bombing and antiaircraft operations by the USAAC… Funding came from the Works… read more

Barton Heights Cemeteries Fence – Richmond VA

The Barton Heights Cemeteries in Richmond, Virginia “are encircled by a fence erected by the Works Progress Administration in 1935.”