Grand Coulee Dam spillway and government town, Washington, 1954

Subjects: Bridges & Dams Power & Water Works Town & City Views
Card type: Real photo
Date: c. 1915 (White Border)

Back of Grand Coulee Dam spillway and government town, Washington, 1954, c. 1915 real photo postcard — Back

About this postcard

Elevated view of Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River, with water pouring over the spillway in a long white curtain, the powerhouse blocks flanking it, a steel highway bridge downstream, and the rows of government housing for dam workers on the right bank. Grand Coulee Dam, built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation between 1933 and 1942, was then the largest concrete structure in the world and the centerpiece of the Columbia Basin irrigation project. The white-ink annotation dates this view to 1954, when the dam's spillway was still used to pass spring runoff.

Postcard Details

Message · English, in pencil

This is a wonderful Thing to see I'll send you a booklet on it. We went on a Tour Through the one power house on the night

PublisherJ. Boyd Ellis

GRAND COULEE DAM - WASH --- GRAND COULEE DAM The world's largest concrete structure, comprising the largest hydro-electric power development possible on the North American continent. Here will be developed 2,520,000 H.P. Water to irrigate 1,200,000 acres will be pumped into the vast reservoir of the Grand Coulee. A man made lake 151 miles long has been created. Altogether making the most famous power, irrigation and tourist center in the world. J. BOYD ELLIS, ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON

Addressed to

Mrs Bertha Munson

4118 McCall Blvd., Bremerton, WA

Postcard record

Publisher	J. Boyd Ellis
Condition	Very good
Place addressed	Mrs Bertha Munson, 4118 McCall Blvd., Bremerton, WA
Place depicted	Grand Coulee Dam, Grand Coulee, WA
Publisher	J. Boyd Ellis, Arlington, WA
Notes	Black-and-white glossy real-photo print with white-ink caption at lower left and a white-ink 'Pub. by 1954' annotation at lower right; no white border. No postmark. Divided-back real-photo card with printed description of Grand Coulee Dam; publisher imprint J. Boyd Ellis, Arlington, Washington. Pencil message on the message side; light edge wear and slight yellowing.

Cite this card

Grand Coulee Dam spillway and government town, Washington, 1954, postcard, c. 1915. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/grand-coulee-dam-spillway-and-government-town-washington-195. Accessed October 24, 2026.