Lecture: Building the Ashokan Reservoir

"Building the Ashokan Reservoir"

Wednesday, September 8, 2021 | 7:00 PM

In-Person in the Wooden Boat School Classroom & Virtually Via Zoom

$5/person | HRMM Members FREE

The Ashokan Reservoir is a visual treat for anyone using the perimeter road, dividing weir, or the new Ashokan Rail Trail. The background of Catskill Mountain peaks, which frame 12 square miles of water, create a vista that makes the visitor wonder how this all came to be. The author wanted to bring the story of how this massive dam, miles of dikes, and water controls come together into a system that provides New York City residents 500 million gallons of water daily. Accolades go to the Board of Water Supply engineers who, in the 1900s, designed the project and to the contractors and their workers who, more than 100 years ago and mostly by hand, completed an undertaking nearly the magnitude of the Panama Canal. Construction started on September 30, 1907. In six years, on September 9, 1913, water storage began. The dam and dikes, followed by roads and bridges, completed the project in December 1917. Completion was ahead of schedule and under budget!

Speaker Bio: Frank Almquist

Frank Almquist is a local historian and author of the new book "Building the Ashokan Reservoir" (2021). He has been a museum volunteer and lighthouse docent for many years. 

Program information:

This program is being presented simultaneously in-person at the Hudson River Maritime Museum and virtually via Zoom. You will receive the link to the Zoom meeting in your registration confirmation email. Please save that email to access the virtual lecture.

If you are attending in-person, you MUST register in advance. No same-day walkins will be allowed. In-person lectures are limited to 20 attendees. Masks are required, no refreshments will be served. Both virtual and in-person attendees will receive access to the Zoom registration link. 

Please login to receive your member discounts. Please note that you must be a current member the date of the event to receive your discount.