Unmarked Sites

The New Deal vastly improved Yosemite National Park in California, which has long been the showpiece of the national park system.  Several federal agencies operated in the park from 1933 to 1942, under the general supervision of the National Park Service: the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Public Works Administration (PWA), and Bureau of Public Roads (BPR), plus the short-lived Civil Works Administration (CWA)  (December 1933 to April 1934). Major works around Yosemite are detailed in the various site pages listed on the right. Nevertheless, some of the immense amount of work done during the New Deal cannot be pinpointed, so we...

The eastern half of the former General Services Administration Regional National Capital Office Building was built under the New Deal in 1933-35.   The Public Works Administration (PWA) contributed $1,750,000 towards the project and the Treasury Department paid the rest, $850,000. The purpose of the expansion was to add ~400,000 square feet of space for a consolidated home of the Treasury Department's Procurement Division, whose workers had been spread out across several buildings in the District. Originally meant to be an addition to the Procurement Division's building across 8th Street to the west, completed in 1932, the addition was simply integrated into the...

The Geneva High School Vocational and Home Economics Building was the first building built at Geneva High School during the 1937-1938 school year. The City of Geneva purchased the land from P.C. Black, Jim Johnson, Jr., and D.H. Morris. The building was built by the Works Progress Administration. Today the building is still used as History and Fine Arts classrooms.

For two years, the Works Progress Administration (WPA), under the leadership of University of Texas at Austin archaeologists, excavated an area known as the George C. Davis Site (41CE19). The site yielded artifacts from the Caddoan Mississippian culture that existed there from 800 A.D. to 1300 A.D. The archaeologists also found artifacts from the Spanish colonial era in Texas (1690-1821 A.D.) as the site was along the El Camino Real de los Tejas. The artifacts are held by the Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory at The University of Texas at Austin. The official WPA project number was 65-1-66-2594. The George C. Davis...

In the winter of 1935, the Works Progress Administration started doing work throughout Wrentham, Massachusetts. In 1936, the WPA helped to develop the land for the town's new elementary school, which the town was in dire need of. The WPA workers took part in drainage and grading work. They laid a water pipe for the new school and lined the nearby brook with rocks.

After the 1933 Long Beach Earthquake, Central Elementary School was reconstructed with funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA) and renamed George Washington Elementary School. During the project, carried out in 1938-39, all of the walls were replaced. Central Elementary School was Anaheim's first elementary school, opening in 1879. The reconstructed George Washington Elementary was repurposed in 1979 and finally demolished in 1998 to make way for the beautiful George Washington Park. There is a plaque on site that recognizes the significance of the location as being Anaheim's first elementary school, but does not mention the New Deal school that replaced it.

Presumably under the auspices of the WPA Federal Art Project (FAP), artist Eugenia Everett created a bust made of Belgian black marble depicting a woman with her hair gathered at the back of her neck. It is now located in the library at George Washington Preparatory High School in Los Angeles, CA. According to a 1937 article in the Los Angeles School Journal, “Eugenia Everett is a wistful young lady, working in her aunt’s studio on Manhattan Place” (Wells, p. 25). Everett also created sculptures for Brockton Avenue School and Fries Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles, CA.

The Alley Dwelling Authority (ADA) and the Federal Works Agency (FWA) funded the construction of the Georgia Avenue Houses in Washington, DC in 1943. This development of 170 living units was built for white national defense workers (Washington, DC was highly segregated at the time). It is unknown to the Living New Deal if any of the structures still exist, but it is not likely since these homes were classified as “demountable,” i.e., intended to be taken down and salvaged sometime after the war. The ADA was one of the earliest New Deal initiatives to provide better housing for low-income Americans. It replaced...

The federal Bureau of Public Roads (BPR), funded by the Public Works Administration (PWA), built the 15.7 mile Glacier Point Road from Chinquapin Flat on the Wawona Road to Glacier Point, 1933-35. This project was part of a complete overhaul of Yosemite National Park roads carried out under the New Deal in the 1930s. The Glacier Point Road replaced a primitive saddle road built in the 1870s. Surveys for the route were done in 1930-31 and grading began in 1932. Then, funding for the project became available through the National Industrial Recovery Act, which created the PWA.    "The new road was to...

Constructed by the WPA under projects 3635, 6994, 7706 and 9392 in 1938. When constructed it was called the Verdugo Municipal Recreation Center and was sponsored by the city of Glendale. "This project, costing a total of $736,422 of which $650,731 was supplied by the Federal Government, consisted of the construction of an auditorium containing 560,000 cubic feet with facilities for plays, concerts, conventions, dances and other public gatherings. A 50 meter swimming pool of the modern cloverleaf design, and conforming to intercollegiate and international specifications, was built together with a reinforced concrete grandstand. A connecting bathhouse containing 160,00 cubic feet...

Glendale Community College (formerly Junior College) relocated to its present campus in 1937. Several of the campus' original buildings—including the surviving John A. Davitt Administration Building—were constructed between 1936 and 1937 with the support of a bond election and funds matched equally by a Public Works Administration (PWA) grant. "The initial campus would consist of four buildings: a 24,000 square-foot Administration Building, a 12,000 square-foot Science Building and men's and women's locker rooms, together totaling 6,960 square feet. This plant would have 32 classrooms and laboratories. Space would be set aside for a student-funded student union, auditorium, liberal arts and classroom...

Archibald Garner sculpted "Youth in Agriculture" of granite for Glendale Community College in Glendale, CA, with Federal Arts Project (FAP) funding. Los Angeles Public Library has listed the sculpture as missing. Garner's extant New Deal–funded works in the region include a sculpture, "Law" (1941), at the U.S. Courthouse in Los Angeles, CA; the Copernicus figure found in the Astronomers Monument (1934) at Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, CA; and, in Inglewood, CA, the water fountain at Edward Vincent Jr. Park as well as a mahogany bas relief, "Centinella Springs" (1937), at the post office.

Raquette Lake is the largest lake in the southwestern portion of the Adirondack Park in  upstate New York.  It is famous as the site of some of the earliest and grandest of the "Camps" established by wealthy New Yorkers in the Gilded Age of the 19th century – which were, in fact, grand summer homes owned by families like the Durants, Vanderbilts, and Morgans). The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Eighth Lake Camp, established in  1933, did improvements to the state campground at Golden Beach on the southeastern flank of Raquette Lake, which the Department of Conservation had created in 1929 (on...

Then known as the Sausalito lateral approach, this approach to the Golden Gate bridge was built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) c. 1937-38. More information is needed.

A 1940 report identifies the Works Progress Administration (WPA) as having worked on lighting for the Golden Gate bridge, but provides no further details. The work was probably done in 1939-40.  Since no federal agencies were involved in the construction of the Golden Gate bridge itself, and the WPA and Public Works Administration (PWA) were involved in building all the approach roads to the bridge, it is most likely that this report is referring to lighting along the approaches not on the bridge itself.  Further confirmation is needed.      

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built a Lyon Street approach to the Golden Gate Bridge (not itself a New Deal project) to allow access to the bridge by heavy trucks arriving through San Francisco.  These ramps are no longer extant (?). "Construction of main truck route to Golden Gate bridge included filling and paving ramps, pile driving and building superstructure, reconstruction of tennis courts, removed and boxed trees and shrubs; relayed railroad siding; rehabilitated several buildings; built sewers; installed the electrical work; did the cement finish and painting. This work was of heavy construction, corresponding to the type of steel and...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed the northern approach road to the Golden Gate Bridge (not itself a New Deal project).  It ran 1.5 miles from the end of US Highway 101 to the bridgehead on the Marin Headlands. San Francisco WPA branch manager William Mooser made a prospective announcement of the work in a 1938 report: "This project embraces the location and construction of a lateral highway, one and one-half miles in length connecting U.S. Highway 101 at Sausalito with the bridge-head of the Golden Gate Bridge, with such structures as may be required, and include all necessary excavation, grading, drainage,...

The little-known archery field at the west end of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco was built by Works Progress Administration (WPA) relief laborers.  It is still in regular use.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) and its relief workers built the Angler's Lodge and Casting Pools in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, for the benefit of the Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club. In return, Club members agreed to help train anyone who asked, a pledge they still honor.  The club had previously used nearby Stow Lake, which could only accommodate a few casters at a time, so the club encouraged the Golden Gate Park directors to ask the WPA to new facilities. The project was done in 1938 and the facility opened in March 1939. The first national casting tournament was...

Two bas-relief concrete sculptures by Jesse S. "Vet" Anderson (1875-1966), overlooking the WPA funded Golden Gate Park Horseshoe Pits.

As part of extensive improvements around Golden Gate Park in San Francisco CA, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) built modern stables for the city's mounted police force.  The date of construction was almost certainly 1939, the same as the nearby Public Stables. The stables were built of concrete in the popular Mission Revival style of the time, with a red tile roof. The interiors are made of wood. Both the police stables and public stables, located close to the park's Polo Field, are still in use.  

As part of extensive improvements throughout Golden Gate Park, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) carried out modest improvement work at the Police Training Academy – now the Golden Gate Park Senior Center.   The work involved alterations to the main office and grading and paving a drill ground behind the building – now a parking lot.  (Healy, pp 70-71). It is likely that the work was done in 1938-39, when the WPA was most active in the park, but we have not been able to verify that.    

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Company 3822(V) was assigned to Goliad, Texas from 1935 to 1941 to work on project SP 43-T, Goliad State Park. The CCC built a custodian's complex for Goliad State Park between 1936 and 1937. The complex consisted of a five-room, one-bath, 1-1/2 story residence for the park caretaker, plus maintenance and storage buildings, all located about one mile north of the park. A stone wall surrounded the complex. The CCC built most everything in the house by hand as the house was also an experimental studio, testing the methods they would use to reconstruct Mission...

In 1938, the Public Works Administration (PWA) allotted $58,900 for divorcements sewers in the Good Hope Road area. The new sewers began in Anacostia Park, “midway between the Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge and the Eleventh Street Bridge,” and then ran “southeastward to Naylor road” (Evening Star, 1938). Work on the project started on December 12, 1938 and was completed on May 27, 1939. These new divorcement sewers were part of a city-wide New Deal effort to extend the city sewer system and separate sanitary and storm sewers, and introduce unified sewage treatment for the first time to reduce the contamination of the...

In 1934-35, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers stationed in the Bridger-Teton National Forest constructed five new buildings to create the Goosewing Guard Station, including a central dwelling, two gashouses, a barn and a garage. Originally built as a winter shelter for rangers monitoring elk grazing conditions, the U.S. Forest Service utilized Goosewing Guard Station until it fell into disrepair in the early 2000s. All five buildings were built following standard architectural plans created by U.S. Forest Service regional architect George L. Nichols. Because of Nichols’ contributions to the region in the 1930s (made possible through New Deal funding and labor), the majority...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed a bridge across Gordon Creek outside Price, Utah. The exact location is unknown to Living New Deal, though we do believe the structure has since been replaced.

U.S. Government Publishing Office Warehouse (also known as Building No. 4) is graced on the exterior by four bas-relief sculptures commissioned by the New Deal’s Treasury Section of Fine Arts.  The original name of this office complex was the US Government Printing Office, but it was changed in 2014. Two printing press worker sculptures were created in 1937 by Elliot Means (1904-1962).  After the 1930s, Means went on to become a successful artist, “known as a maker of bas-reliefs and painter of southwestern scenes” (Albuquerque Journal, 1962). The two eagle sculptures were done by Armin Scheler (1901-1987) in 1937.  After his New Deal artwork,...

Eighty years ago a park was developed by Minnesota Department of Transportation that would become of historic significance some years later. That park is Graeser Park, named after Carl Graeser, designer of State Highway 100, aka Beltline and Lilac Parkway. Through time, change and neglect many of those roadside rest stops have been lost. Robbinsdale is fortunate to have one of the only two remaining in the country, with a Beehive fireplace. Graeser Park has shared many years of enjoyment, in addition to its share of neglect. Many groups and individuals have helped to dig out the limestone benches, paths and ponds...

In 1935, one mile of Glassell Street in Santa Ana, California, was graded and paved between Seventeenth Street and Fairhaven Avenue using a federal grant of $50,000. The name of this section of the road is now called North Grand Avenue. The funds surely came through the Bureau of Public Roads to the California State Highway Department, which passed it on to the City of Santa Ana.  (This needs to be confirmed). This would have been part of a larger annual grant to the state for road building. Almost certainly this stretch of road has been repaved and improved since the New...

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was extremely active in Grand Canyon National Park throughout the New Deal. The CCC enrollees worked under the direction of the National Park Service (NPS) and some of the projects were funded by the Public Works Administration (PWA).  The first CCC camp was established on the South Rim, where Company 819 started working on improvements to the facilities around Grand Canyon Village, the main visitor center for the park, c. 1933-1937. The CCC enrollees built a stone wall along the Rim Trail, the Kolb Studio stairs, the Community Building, rock pillars on Navajo Street, and various paths, culverts,...

The Public Works Administration (PWA) lent Grand County $33,750 to help build a new county courthouse in Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado, in 1937-38—now the Grant County Administration Building. The project's total cost was $75,733. (PWA Docket No. CO 1060-R.) The Grand County Courthouse, designed by Robert Fuller, is a good example of the Classical Moderne style popular at the time. The exterior of the two-story structure is clad in yellow brick. The central section is slightly elevated and projected forward, with suggestions of flanking columns, and the two wings have four rows of windows. An annex was added to the courthouse in...

"9.979 miles of grading, etc. Grand Loop Highway, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, by Bureau of Public Roads, Denver to James Crick, Spokane WA, $324,506"

The Granville Town Board voted in 1940 to build a new Town Hall in Granville Center that would house the town offices, an auditorium, and the fire department. Work Projects Administration (WPA) labor built the project. Construction began Oct. 23, 1941 and the building was dedicated Oct. 10, 1942. Its original address was W. Good Hope Rd. and N. Wauwatosa Ave. (renamed N. 76th St. after Milwaukee and Granville consolidated). The Granville Town Hall was assigned the address of 7717 W. Good Hope Rd., circa 1944. On April 3rd, 1956, the voters of the City of Milwaukee and Town of Granville (22 sq....

Humboldt Redwoods State Park was established in 1921 with purchases of some of the last remaining Old Growth stands of Coast Redwoods by the Save the Redwoods League. It has since been expanded several times and now includes over 51,000 acres, of which 17,000 are old growth redwood stands.   California did not establish a state parks system until 1928, and little improvement work had been done at Humboldt Redwoods before the New Deal.  When the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) arrived at Dyerville camp in 1933, the young men got to work right away developing the state park.  The CCC enrollees immediately...

Sitting one mile west of the city limit on the Reno Truckee highway (today West 4th Street). Most of the sand and gravel used in New Deal projects in Reno came from here. The CWA and NIRA gave the city of Reno $14248.00 for development and operation of this pit.

Shelterbelts were natural windbreaks planted to protect land from the dust storms of the 1930s. The Great Plains Shelterbelts spans several states. The agency that started the project is unknown to the Living New Deal, but the project was transferred to the Works Progress Administration because of a dispute over the source of funding. Today, very few of the Depression-era shelterbelts are left, but a few trees remain of the shelterbelt built on the McFarland Ranch.  McFarland Ranch is a private property southwest of Cimarron. The ranch is south of the Arkansas River and the trees were originally irrigated by the Arkansas...

The multiple arch steel and stone masonry bridge spanning the Little River at Elkmont Campground in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (Historic American Engineering Record, 1996). The bridge is stone veneer and multi-plate corrugated metal arches constructed on top of concrete piers. It originally was surfaced with crushed rock, but was later paved with asphalt. It is located on Elkmont Road, 1.95 miles from the intersection of Elkmont Road and Little River Road. The full bridge is 201 feet long and 22 feet wide. Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) enrollees began construction in...

This mining town took advantage of the New Deal to get aid for the repair of its school, a classic one-room school house, originally built in 1917. "Provide new underpinning under Grammar School, repair of walls, etc." WPA Proj. No. 65-3-3770, December 27, 1935, $1,136.

In early November, 1934, the Illinois Central (I.C.) Railroad contracted with the Pullman Car & Manufacturing Corporation to build the I.C.’s first streamline train, consisting of a 1,200 horsepower Diesel-electric locomotive, a mail & baggage car, two passenger coaches, and a lounge car.  Then, on November 26, 1934, the I.C. requested the Interstate Commerce Commission approve a $2 million loan from the Public Works Administration (PWA), a portion of which was to finance the new streamliner (the PWA had awarded this loan in October).  The loan was approved sometime thereafter, probably in early 1935. The “Green Diamond” cost $425,000 to construct...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) completed improvements at the municipal Greenbelt Golf Course in Columbus, IN. The Evening Republican, (1/12/1939) states that the funds allocated amounted to "$28,399 for improvements at city golf course." The article describes the approval of the WPA project including improvements to the golf course, flood control work—straightening the creek bed and widening the channel at the Tenth Street bridge—on the creek through the property, and construction of picnic grounds (now removed). An article in The Evening Republican (5/4/1939) describes the rescue of a swimmer near the "dam at the golf course" and notes that WPA workers from...