Town reports for Manchester, Vermont reveal that federal funds and labor went toward the development of a local airport in 1934. 25 men were put to work on the project. There is no longer an active airport in the community;… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked to improve a municipal airport for Worcester, Mass. It is unclear whether this site is what is now Worcester Regional Airport, or a since-eliminated facility in North Grafton, Mass. Living New Deal suspects that… read more
The W.P.A. helped to develop what was then known as the Allentown–Bethlehem–Easton airport, now Lehigh Valley International Airport. Wikipedia: “The airport hangar served as the passenger terminal; the first terminal building at the airport was built in 1938 as a Works… read more
The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted a development / improvement program at what is now known Claremont Municipal Airport. “Develop and improve municipal airport” Official Project Number: 165‐1‐13‐18 Total project cost: $118,235.00 Sponsor: War Department “Improve airport” Official Project Number: 265‐1‐13‐13… read more
The W.P.A. worked to develop what is now known as Helena Regional Airport, in Helena, Montana. W.P.A. project info: “Improve municipal airport” Official Project Number: 165‐1‐91‐168 Total project cost: $201,345.00 Sponsor: City of Helena “Improve municipal airport” Official Project Number: 165‐1‐91‐71… read more
The W.P.A. worked to develop what is now known as Missoula International Airport, in Montana. W.P.A. project info: “Develop and improve airport” Official Project Number: 165‐1‐91‐34 Total project cost: $928,324.00 Sponsor: Missoula County
The federal Public Works Administration helped to provide funding for the construction of an airport hangar during the 1930s (PWA Federal Project No. 223). The airport, under the name Bourne Field, served as a military airfield and, during the early… read more
The W.P.A. worked to improve what is now known as Billings Logan International Airport, in Montana. W.P.A. project info: “Make improvements to municipal airport” Official Project Number: 165‐1‐91‐66 Total project cost: $295,767.00 Sponsor: City of Billings
The Works Progress Administration contributed $2,306 toward the construction of the airfied in Cordova, Alaska. Formerly operating as the Cordova Army Airfield, the airfield was subsequently closed. The airfield was redeveloped and today serves as the state-owned, public-use Cordova Municipal Airport.
Multiple New Deal agencies are cited as having contributed to the development of Akron Falls Park, including the C.W.A. and the W.P.A. “The Civil Works Administration … initiated the development of Akron Falls. They hired 90 men to develop the… read more
The monument itself dates from 1893 but the original marble bust was replaced in 1934 by a bronze one sculpted by Evaline Sellors as a PWAP project. The curbing (reflecting pool) around the Al Hayne Monument is a CWA project:… read more
Al Krueger Field, located at the EOT County Fairgrounds in Perham, Minnesota, was originally constructed as a federal Works Progress Administration project during the Great Depression. The original structure was torn down in 2012 and replaced; the site is now… read more
In 1932, the city government began grading work and site preparations on the grounds of the Ala Moana park with the help of territorial relief funds. But it was the advent of federal assistance in 1933 that expanded the scope of… read more
This shore-side park was constructed with CWA and FERA funds. From a Department of Land and Natural Resources calendar: “The moderne style, FERA funded Ala Moana Park East Entry Gateway (1934), designed by Harry Sims Bent, was officially named the… read more
Part of the Ala Moana Park complex, the Lawn Bowling Green was designed by architect Harry Sims Bent and built with the help of federal funds and FERA and CWA labor. “Constructed in 1939, the lawn bowling green was the last of… read more
Part of the Ala Moana Park complex, the Sports Pavilion and Banyan Court were designed by architect Harry Sims Bent and built with the help of federal funds and FERA and CWA labor. “The simple concrete exterior walls of the… read more
The Civil Works Administration (CWA) installed a 16-inch water main along Alabama Avenue SE in 1933-4. This was at the beginning of an extensive program of building new water mains and sewers all across the District of Columbia by New… read more
The Works Progress Administration built facilities for the Alabama Boys Industrial School in Roebuck, a neighborhood of Birmingham, Jefferson County. The facilities included a dining hall and a heating plant. The present condition of the structure is unknown to the… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built dormitories for the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University).
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built an Outdoor Amphitheater for the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University). The amphitheater was built for the Agricultural Training camp. Granite cobblestones retrieved after the WPA paved the streets of Montgomery were used for the… read more
The Works Progress Administration built a swimming pool for the former State Training School for Girls in Chalkville, Alabama, near Birmingham.
The Works Progress Administration built a total of five buildings for the State Training School for Girls in Chalkville, near Birmingham. The facilities included an administration building, hospital, clinic, and a swimming pool. The estimated federal cost was $179,072.00. The… read more
Alameda County courthouse is a striking example of Moderne Architecture. It consists of a large base filling a city block, a setback tower, two further stories of jail set farther back and a hipped roof with observation cupola at the… read more
The former main entrance on the east side of the Alameda County Courthouse leads to an elegant lobby flanked by stairways and two large murals made of marble, backed with gold and silver leaf. The murals, which measure 10… read more
The February 1934 issue of California Highway and Public Works describes federal funding for extensive road work from Oakland to Richmond. When the Key System replaced portions of their lightrail trolley with bus service, federal funds helped with track removal… read more
This sub-station of the Municipal Power and Light System at Alameda, California was constructed by the PWA. Its current status is unknown.
'In preparing the design for the new library building, much attention was devoted to acoustics and to the material and artificial lighting of the main reading room. The results have been most satisfactory. The building was constructed with rigid concrete… read more
The WPA constructed the Alamitos Branch of the Long Beach Public Library in 1938.
Multiple New Deal agencies were involved with improving the grounds at the Alamo. A timeline mural board on the west side of the Alamo Museum indicates that “depression-era public works projects” built the walls that now encompass the grounds of… read more
$24,000 was provided by federal funds during the Great Depression for the construction of a bridge carrying Ben Hulse Highway over the Alamo River east of Brawley, California.
This facility was dedicated September 20, 1940. In 2013, it underwent a $35 million renovation, which has restored the facades, including plaques and markers. It was built in or near an abandoned rock quarry through the WPA. It is listed… read more
Alamo Stadium was built by the WPA in 1940. In 1941 four tile murals, entitled 100 Years of Sports in San Antonio, Texas, 1840-1940, were installed above the main entrance to the stadium; this project was under the auspices of… read more
“While a variety of public works programs emerged under the umbrella of the New Deal, the WPA with its specific goal of providing work relief for the locally unemployed exerted the greatest impact on small communities in New Mexico (Kammer… read more
The historic Alamosa County Courthouse was constructed during the Great Depression with the aid of the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA). “The U-shaped complex is one of the county’s best examples of the Mission style. The courthouse was the largest… read more
Delaware utilized substantial federal resources in developing and improving its road network during the Great Depression. Among the dozens of projects undertaken by the federal Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) during 1934 was construction along a road through Alapocas Woods (Alapocas… read more
The 1,300+ mile Alaska Highway was constructed in 1942 and opened in 1943. It was built to provide an alternate supply line to Alaska during World War II, an idea the President Roosevelt had proposed to the Canadian government in… read more
San Antonio’s Board of Commissioners created the San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) on June 17, 1937. On September 1, 1937, President Roosevelt signed the United States Housing Act of 1937. This created the United States Housing Authority (USHA) and provided… read more
“Youth and Ambition” by Virginia Pitman, was commissioned by the WPA and presently housed in Laramie, Wyoming’s Albany County Library. “The painting is divided into several sections. One shows men in line to enter a factory. Another depicts scientists in… read more
Albany did not have a public high school until 1936; students traveled to Berkeley, Richmond or Oakland. The WPA and PWA contributed to the building of Albany High between, roughly, 1936-1941. According to the Albany Times from that period, five… read more
Albany Street Bridge Over Boston & Albany Railroad. “The city requested a grant from the Government for bridge alterations as follows: Altering and strengthening Boylston Street Bridge; rebuilding Berkeley Street Bridge and rebuilding Albany Street Bridge. The total cost of… read more
The bridge carrying Albee Avenue over the newly sunken Staten Island Railway was built in 1940, as one link in a large grade crossing removal project sponsored by the Public Works Administration (PWA).
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) made improvements to a segment of Albemarle Street NW, between Reno Road and Thirty-Eighth Street, in 1938-39. The WPA graded the road and prepared it for paving with a foundation of salvaged material: “The… read more
Ivan Albright’s 1934 self-portrait is his first ever known painted self-portrait (of many to be created throughout his life.) It was made as part of the PWAP’s easel painting project. He personally requested it be presented to his alma mater,… read more
“Albuquerque is home to scores of WPA buildings and works. Among the most prolific are the following- … John Gaw Meem designed both S[h]coles Hall and Zimmerman Library on the campus of the University of New Mexico (the corner of… read more
"Albuquerque is home to scores of WPA buildings and works. Among the most prolific are the following- … John Gaw Meem designed both S[h]coles Hall and Zimmerman Library on the campus of the University of New Mexico (the corner of… read more
These carvings adorn the ceiling of Building No. 1 of the Veterans’ Hospital, which was likely also a WPA project. From Public Art and Architecture in New Mexico 1933-1943 by Kathryn Flynn (2012): “Building No. 1 which currently houses the… read more
The Public Works Administration funded improvement work at the Alcatraz Prison on Alcatraz Island. The cost of the project was $1,100,000. The funds for the modernization were earmarked through a PWA program in 1938. The modernization plans were temporarily suspended after the… read more
The Oakland Chapel Greek Revival style building constructed 1840-1851 was completely renovated through support from the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) and state legislated funds that made repairs and improvements to 20 state institutions 1934-1935. Then known as Alcorn A &… read more
“The Alcova Dam is designed for storage and diversion of the river flow into an irrigation canal which irrigates the land around Caspar, Wyoming. The dam is earth fill with a rock surface on the reservoir side. Its height above… read more
“An earlier bridge that once crossed the Iowa River in Alden had long united the two sides of this small town. However, by the mid-1930s the existing wood structure had “long since seen its best day,” according to the Alden… read more
Check out our latest map and guide to the work of the New Deal in Washington, D.C. It includes 500 New Deal sites in the District alone, highlighting 34 notable sites, and includes an inset map of the area around the National Mall which can be used for self-guided walking tours.
Take a look at our previous guides, equally comprehensive, covering key New Deal sites in San Francisco and New York City.
