As the Great Depression drew to a close, the concept of claiming the waters in Northern California for agricultural purposes became a reality with the completion of Shasta Dam in 1945. The Central Valley Project started in order to supply sufficient amounts of water to farmers. The project was to include the construction of a dam at Whiskeytown.

Property was purchased from residents, and the area cleared of most vegetation and buildings. Among the few structures saved were the Whiskeytown Post Office and schoolhouse. The Whiskeytown Cemetery was also relocated just below the dam. Construction of the dam began in 1959, and during the summer of 1963, water filled the canyon where once stood a bustling community.

President John F. Kennedy dedicated Whiskeytown Dam on September 28, 1963 before a crowd of over 10,000 people. He spoke briefly of the development of the American West and the significance of Whiskeytown Dam and its relationship to the Central Valley Project. The waters over the sleepy hamlet of Whiskeytown, which a century earlier had been the scene of rowdy mining camps and scattered claims, now provide recreational opportunities enjoyed by today’s visitor.

Credits and Sources:

“The Story of Whiskeytown.” National Park Service. http://www.nps.gov/whis/planyourvisit/upload/StoryofWhiskeytown.pdf (accessed June 27, 2015).