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1972

Chesbrough's Water Supply System
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Era: 1860-1869 DateCreated: 1864-1869 Chicago State: IL Zip: 60604 Country: USA Website: http://www.asce.org/project/chesbrough-s-chicago-water-supply-system/ Creator: Chesbrough, Ellis

Constructed to provide a safe, potable water supply for the citizens of Chicago, Ellis Chesbrough's Chicago Water Supply System was the first major system to utilize offshore intake systems. The system includes the landmark Chicago Water Tower and the Chicago Avenue Pumping Station. Its subaqueous tunnel was a pioneering effort in American civil engineering.

YearAdded:
1972
Image Credit: Courtesy Wikipedia/Wickdrew Image Caption: Ellis Chesbrough's Chicago Water Supply System was the first major system to utilize offshore intake systems. Era_date_from: 1864
McCormick Reaper
Society: ASABE Main Category: Agricultural & Biological Sub Category: Equipment, Harvesting and Baling Era: 1830-1839 DateCreated: 1831 McCormick Farm Raphine State: VA Zip: 24472 Country: USA Website: http://www.asabe.org/awards-landmarks/asabe-historic-landmarks/mccormick-reaper-4.aspx Creator: McCormick, Cyrus Hall

McCormick was born on the 620-acre farm known historically as “Walnut Grove Farm” in 1809.  He built the first practical grain reaper, which was successfully demonstrated in a field of oats owned by John Steele in nearby Steeles Tavern in 1831.  

YearAdded:
1972
Image Credit: Courtesy of the Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Image Caption: The McCormick reaper was first demonstrated at the Walnut Grove Farm in Virginia. Era_date_from: 1831
Gunnison Tunnel
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Tunnels Era: 1900-1909 DateCreated: 1909 Montrose State: CO Zip: Country: USA Website: http://www.asce.org/Project/Gunnison-Tunnel/ Creator: Bureau of Reclamation

At its completion, the 5.8-mile Gunnison Tunnel under western Colorado's Vernal Mesa was the longest irrigation tunnel in America. It carried water from the Gunnison River to the Uncompahgre Valley to irrigate 146,000 acres of cropland. 

Work on the 30,582-foot tunnel was first performed manually. Adverse geological conditions provided great challenge for this pioneering project. The drilling crews had to deal with clay, sand, shale, and a badly fractured fault zone. 

YearAdded:
1972
Image Credit: Public Domain; Produced prior to 1/1/1923 Image Caption: Gunnison Tunnel Era_date_from: 1909
Delaware Aqueduct of the Delaware & Hudson Canal
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Bridges, Transportation, Water Supply & Control Era: 1840-1849 DateCreated: 1848 Delaware River Minisink Ford State: NY Zip: 18435 Country: USA Website: http://www.asce.org/Project/Roebling-s-Delaware-Aqueduct/ Creator: Roebling, John

The Delaware Aqueduct provided an important transportation link between the Pennsylvania's coalmines and New York's booming industrial marketplace. It is the earliest surviving work of John A. Roebling, who designed the Brooklyn Bridge  30 years later. The cable anchorage system first used on this project was also used on the Brooklyn Bridge. The aqueduct is patterned after Roebling's design of the Pennsylvania Canal over the Allegheny River, and is the oldest metal strand cable suspension bridge still standing in the U.S.

YearAdded:
1972
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/Doug Kerr (CC BY-SA 2.0) Image Caption: Delaware Aqueduct of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Era_date_from: 1848
Cabin John Aqueduct
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Bridges, Transportation, Water Supply & Control Era: 1860-1869 DateCreated: 1864 Cabin John State: MD Zip: Country: USA Website: http://www.asce.org/Project/Cabin-John-Aqueduct/ Creator: Meigs, Montgomery

Cabin John Aqueduct, designed by Montgomery C. Meigs, conveys drinking water from Great Falls, Maryland to Washington, D.C. It was the longest stone masonry arch in the world for nearly 40 years. The segmental arch of the bridge has a span of 220 feet and a rise of only 57 feet. The main arch ring is built of cut and dressed granite. The secondary arch ring is radially-laid sandstone, of which the rest of the bridge is also constructed. 

YearAdded:
1972
Image Credit: Public Domain (Author's Choice) Image Caption: Cabin John Aqueduct Era_date_from: 1864
Brooklyn Bridge
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Bridges Era: 1880-1889 DateCreated: 1883 East River Brooklyn State: NY Zip: 11201 Country: USA Website: http://www.asce.org/Project/Brooklyn-Bridge/ Creator: Roebling, John, Roebling, Washington

On May 24, 1883, with schools and businesses closed for the occasion, New York celebrated the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge. Also known as the Great East River Bridge, it was built over 14 years in the face of enormous difficulties. Deaths, fire in the Brooklyn caisson, and a scandal over inferior materials all added to the turmoil. The bridge is one of the most well-recognized symbols of American engineering, and remains the unofficial Eighth Wonder of the World.

YearAdded:
1972
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/Sarah Ackerman (CC BY 2.0) Image Caption: The Brooklyn Bridge earned its title of (unofficial) Eight Wonder of the World through its incredible size and beauty Era_date_from: 1883
Miami Conservancy District
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Water Supply & Control Era: 1920-1929 DateCreated: 1922 Taylorsville Dam (One of 5 Dams) Huber Heights State: OH Zip: 45424 Country: USA Website: http://www.asce.org/Project/Miami-Conservancy-District/ Creator: Flood Prevention Committee, Morgan, Arthur Ernest

The Miami Conservancy District flood control project was the direct result of the disastrous flood of 1913, when waters from the Miami, Stillwater, and Mad rivers flooded Dayton and surrounding communities in the Miami Valley. More than 400 lives were lost and property damage exceeded $100 million. When Dayton flooded, great fires raged, adding to the devastation. Many believed that the area would never recover. 

YearAdded:
1972
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/bobosh_t (CC BY-SA 2.0) Image Caption: The Taylorsville Dam, one of the five dry damns to come out of the Miami Conservancy District Era_date_from: 1922
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Innovations

Miami Conservancy District

The Miami Conservancy District flood control project was the direct result of the disastrous flood of 1913, when waters from the Miami, Stillwater, and Mad rivers flooded Dayton and surrounding communities in the Miami Valley. More than 400 lives were lost and property damage exceeded $100…

Read More
Brooklyn Bridge

On May 24, 1883, with schools and businesses closed for the occasion, New York celebrated the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge. Also known as the Great East River Bridge, it was built over 14 years in the face of enormous difficulties. Deaths, fire in the Brooklyn caisson, and a scandal over…

Read More
Cabin John Aqueduct

Cabin John Aqueduct, designed by Montgomery C. Meigs, conveys drinking water from Great Falls, Maryland to Washington, D.C. It was the longest stone masonry arch in the world for nearly 40 years. The segmental arch of the bridge has a span of 220 feet and a rise of only 57 feet. The main arch…

Read More
Delaware Aqueduct of the Delaware & Hudson Canal

The Delaware Aqueduct provided an important transportation link between the Pennsylvania's coalmines and New York's booming industrial marketplace. It is the earliest surviving work of John A. Roebling, who designed the Brooklyn Bridge  30 years later. The cable anchorage system first…

Read More
Gunnison Tunnel

At its completion, the 5.8-mile Gunnison Tunnel under western Colorado's Vernal Mesa was the longest irrigation tunnel in America. It carried water from the Gunnison River to the Uncompahgre Valley to irrigate 146,000 acres of cropland. 

Work on the 30,582-foot tunnel was first performed…

Read More
McCormick Reaper

McCormick was born on the 620-acre farm known historically as “Walnut Grove Farm” in 1809.  He built the first practical grain reaper, which was successfully demonstrated in a field of oats owned by John Steele in nearby Steeles Tavern in 1831.  

Patented in 1834, the reaper is credited…

Read More
Chesbrough's Water Supply System

Constructed to provide a safe, potable water supply for the citizens of Chicago, Ellis Chesbrough's Chicago Water Supply System was the first major system to utilize offshore intake systems. The system includes the landmark Chicago Water Tower and the Chicago Avenue Pumping Station. Its…

Read More

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