The myth-like story of how one man through daring and engineering genius invented Los Angeles of the future, only to fall tragically from grace. The man was William Mulholland; his creation, the Los Angeles Aqueduct, the tremendous waterway that transformed an arid and sparsely populated town into a thriving city of millions.
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WINNER OF THE WESTERN WRITERS OF AMERICA
GOLDEN SPUR AWARD
William Mulholland and Fred Eaton set out for the Owens Valley from Los Angeles on September 4, 1904, in a two-horse buckboard. Their trek to Inyo County would take five grueling days, and the two friends decided to camp out along the way, living on a miner's diet of bacon, beans and hard liquor. They later joked that their route could be easily traced by following the trail of empty whiskey bottles – dead soldiers – left in their wake. Read more in Chapter 1: ‘Genesis'.
View of the once beautiful St. Francis Dam, which some authorities argued Mulholland had rushed into construction in order to impound a reserve of water for Los Angeles after saboteurs repeatedly dynamited the aqueduct.
In the early hours of Wednesday, May 21, 1924, the Los Angeles Aqueduct was dynamited just below the Alabama Gate spillways. Here, investigators seek evidence of the identity of the perpetrators. Over the next few years the aqueduct would be repeatedly dynamited and bombed.
Los Angeles Aqueduct Slideshow:
In the early hours of Wednesday, May 21, 1924, the Los Angeles Aqueduct was dynamited just below the Alabama Gate spillways. Here, investigators seek evidence of the identity of the perpetrators. Over the next few years the aqueduct would be repeatedly dynamited and bombed.
Sweeping view of the Los Angeles Aqueduct in the Owens Valley, at Alabama Hills, November 24, 1928.
San Francisquito Canyon the morning after the collapse of the St. Francis Dam. Over 12 billion gallons of water roared through the sleeping valley wiping out everything in its path. Only the center section of the dam remained standing.
Mulholland and H.A. Van Norman view the wreckage of the dam early on the morning of March 13, 1928. The center section of the giant dam remained standing as would be the case if the two sides had been dynamited simultaneously, fueling speculation as to the real cause of the dam's collapse.
A fifty-two mule team hauls giant sections of steel siphon to the aqueduct site. Skilled mule skinners were scarce who could handle such sizable teams.
The long awaited moment: Owens Valley water arrives through the aqueduct. Nearly 30,000 jubilant celebrants witnessed the event at the Grand Cascades in Owensmouth on November 5, 1913.
William Mulholland at the peak of his career. Completion of the aqueduct had made him one of the most famous men in the west. The self-taught Irish immigrant was awarded civic and academic honors he never dreamed possible.
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