Mississippi utilized a number of federal work relief and infrastructure opportunities to repair, improve, and construct the levee system at various locations along the Mississippi River from Gunnison in Bolivar county south through Greenville in Washington county to Fitler in… read more
The Kaiser Pass Road (opened in 1927) resulted in increased travel to Mono Hot Springs on the west side of the Sierra Nevada near Huntington Lake – one of the best-known hot springs in California. Therefore, the Forest Service decided… read more
Gus Gay painted this mural for the Federal Art Project, part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Gay was one of what Nancy Boas calls “the California Colorists” of the era. Nancy Boas notes that, “His mural for Monterey High… read more
A Public Works Administration grant helped to fund construction of the Montlake Boulevard Pedestrian Overcrossing on the campus of the University of Washington. The bridge provided a safer pedestrian connection between the main part of the campus west of Montlake… read more
Moran State Park was created in 1921 when Robert Moran, shipbuilder and former mayor of Seattle, donated more than 2,700-acres to the state for a park. Like many state parks at the time, it was not well developed for public… read more
Moran State Park was created in 1921 when Robert Moran, shipbuilder and former mayor of Seattle, donated more than 2,700-acres to the state for a park. Like many state parks at the time, it was not well developed for public… read more
The Swimming Pool at Morrow Mountain State Park in North Carolina was built sometime between 1937 and 1942 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the State of North Carolina under the supervision of the National Park Service. Opened in… read more
A Public Works Administration grant helped fund the construction of Mount Greenwood Elementary School at 108th Street and South Homan Avenue in Chicago’s Mount Greenwood neighborhood. The new school was designed by Board of Education architect John Charles Christensen. The… read more
In 1934, Aurelius Battaglia painted two murals for the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood library, “Animal Circus” and “Animal Orchestra.” They occupy two reading alcoves off the Children’s Room to this day. Funding was provided by the Public Works of Art Project… read more
CCC Co. 117 (S53) out of Tamworth NH was involved in road construction on Mt. Willard, Crawford Notch.
In 1937, Bessie Heller designed a pair of tile mosaics for wall fountains at Mountain View High School in El Monte, CA. Heller received funding from the Federal Art Project (FAP). Heller worked in the art department at MGM Studios…. read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) refurbished an old factory and turned it into a neighborhood center, primarily serving impoverished children. The idle Muchenberger Center resides at what had been the corner of 5th Street and Sycamore Street before highway development… read more
The Public Works Administration (PWA) funded the construction of the Municipal Auditorium in Charleston, WV. According to WOWK: “The history of the Charleston Municipal Auditorium in West Virginia’s capital city started with debate from citizens. According to the auditorium’s Statement… read more
The former Municipal Public Works Garage Industrial District is comprised of six single-story, brick buildings built c. 1940. The garages are on the west bank of the Cumberland River, in Nashville. Buildings 1 through 4 run lengthwise northwest to southeast… read more
“The Decorah Municipal Swimming Pool building design is an architectural specimen of an advanced contemporary style of its day. It is a vision of both the Art Moderne and the International styles of architecture, as designed by Edward Novak, who… read more
Public Works Administration project 1307 was awarded to Washington County following approval 2/21/1934. A loan in the amount of $400,000 and a grant of $161,149 enabled the construction a number of gravel roads throughout the county. Bids were advertised in… read more
In 1938, the National Youth Administration (NYA) constructed the Murray Woman’s Club Clubhouse. It is made of limestone and was built in the Tudor Revival architectural style. During World War II, “The Red Cross set up hospital rooms in the… read more
In 1938, the Public Works Administration (PWA) provided $150,000 (about $2.8 million in 2020 dollars) for the construction of a museum in Browning, Montana, for the Blackfeet and other plains tribes. At the time, it was “the largest Government project…… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the National Guard Armory in Kokomo IN. WPA project numbers: O.P. 65-52-2377 “Armory improvements” and O.P. 65-52-X7 “State armory improvements.”
The Union Creek Historic District on the upper Rogue River in Union Creek, Oregon, is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places because it is a fine representative of a type of rustic resort popular in the early… read more
Works Progress Administration (WPA) project cards for 1938 at the National Archives indicate that the WPA was charged with making improvements to the grounds, buildings, and distribution systems at the U.S. Naval Observatory. Photograph cards on file at the archives show… read more
“The Charleston Naval Base provided defense for the United States from its formation in 1901 to its closure in 1996. Originally designated as the Navy Yard and later as the Naval Base it had a large impact upon the local… read more
The Public Works Administration completed improvements at the New Jersey Avenue Sewage Pumping Station between 1939 and 1940. The work consisted of “electrical installation.”
The Federal Arts Project (FAP) funded the Newton (now Newton North) High School Murals in Newton MA. Painted by Maurice Compris, the mural triptych depicts “Education,” “Commerce,” and “Industry.” It was dedicated as a memorial to Leighton Brown, class of… read more
Newtowne Court is a 294 units apartment complex located in the town of Cambridge, MA. There are eight three-story walk-up buildings; most entrances serve six to nine apartments. Includes 6 units for households with vision impairments. This was one of… read more
Artist Adrien Machefert painted a mural, “All Nations,” at Ninth Street Elementary School in Los Angeles, CA. He was funded by the Federal Arts Project (FAP). “Adrien Machefert, a man past fifty, was born in San Jose, California, and started… read more
In 1937, artist Fletcher Martin painted a mural at North Hollywood High School in North Hollywood, CA. He received funding from the Federal Arts Project (FAP). The school “wanted a mural which related to the California scene and Indians. […]… read more
The first tree of the Great Plains Shelterbelt, an Austrian pine, was planted at the Ed Curtis farm near Willow, Oklahoma, on March 18, 1935. The state forester of Oklahoma, George Phillips, did the honors. The Great Plains Shelterbelt was… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) modernized and expanded the administration building at the original Oakland Municipal Airport (now the North Field of Oakland International Airport). The project was sponsored by the Port of Oakland and cost $70,000. The work added… read more
Edison Elementary School (today’s Odyssey South Charter School) was rebuilt by the Public Works Administration (PWA). It was one of 27 schools in the Pasadena Unified School District to be rebuilt, demolished, or reinforced by the PWA or the Works… read more
“Careful research has been done and is continuing and the whole restoration is by no means complete. The part undertaken with P.W.A. aid was completed in July 1938 at a construction cost of $32,164 and a project cost of $37,175.”
The Old Fire Station in Chester, Illinois was constructed in 1935 and served as a firehouse until 1961. The decommissioned building is presently used for storage. While some documents are unable to distinguish the particular New Deal agency responsible for… read more
In 1934, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) installed exercise equipment on Ocean Front Walk in Santa Monica, CA, immediately south of the Santa Monica Pier. Known today as Original Muscle Beach, the recreation area—which includes ropes, bars, swings, etc.—is considered… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the Orogrande School in Orogrande NM. The structure served as a grade school from 1935-1958, a polling location from 1935 to 1985, and a community center from 1971 to present.
The oyster project was completed at an expenditure of $67,270.94 for bedding of 2,678 acres of oyster reefs with shells. The sponsor’s contribution was $4,683.18 and the Works Projects Administration funds $62,587.76. The project was approved 1935 to support the… read more
An 18-foot high art deco sculpture, “Santa Monica” by Eugene Morahan, is located on the bluff at the foot of Wilshire Blvd. It was built in 1934 with funding from the Public Works of Art Project. The city of Santa Monica… read more
The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a grant that covered about half the cost of building a new high school in Paonia CO in 1938-39. The school closed when a new high school was constructed in the neighboring town of… read more
Federal support was critical to restoring Pasadena City College (formerly Pasadena Junior College, or PJC) after it sustained extensive damage in the 1933 Long Beach Earthquake. Immediately following the earthquake, the college received part of the $919,654 granted to the… read more
Football stadium constructed 1938-1939 by the Public Works Administration and the Works Progress Administration for $246,000. Currently home of the Massillon Washington High School football team.
