Old Bear Valley Dam
Posted by: 
geobwong2k
N 34° 14.524 W 116° 58.574
11S E 502188 N 3788997
The Old Bear Valley Dam was used to form Big Bear Lake.
Waymark Code: WM1HKF
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 05/12/2007
Views: 65
The inscription on the plaque reads:
In 1884 Frank Brown built an unusual dam here to supply irrigation water for the Redlands area. The single-arch granite dam formed Big Bear Lake, then the world's largest man-made lake. Engineers claimed the dam would not hold, and declared it "The Eighth Wonder of the World" when it did. The old dam is usually underwater because of the 20-foot higher dam built 200 feet west in 1912.
Located on the other side of the dam are two more plaques. One from the Big Bear Municipal Water District and the other from the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Marker Number: 725.00
Marker Name: Old Bear Valley Dam
County: San Bernardino
Has Official CA Plaque: yes
Marker Dedication Date: 10/10/1982
Location:
W edge of Big Bear Lake, intersection of State Hwys 18 and 38, 4.8 mi W of Big Bear Lake Village.
Website: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
Feel free to post a picture of you at the landmark site, but a photo is not required to log a visit.