Lecture: “Horror on the Hassayampa: The 1890 Walnut Grove Dam Disaster”, with Dr. Eduardo Pagán in the Cultural Crossroads Learning Center.
Arizona settlers hailed the construction of the Walnut Grove Dam as the beginning of the end of the wild frontier, where man’s ingenuity in controlling water could tame the wilderness and transform Arizona into “rich farming, pasture and mining lands” as “hundreds of similar water works will be constructed in the Territory.” Those dreams came crashing down early one February morning in 1890, as over 30 million gallons of water broke through the dam, killing up to 150 settlers and destroying hundreds of acres of property. This presentation will explore the history of the construction and destruction of the Walnut Grove Dam on the Hassayampa River, some 15 miles northeast of Wickenburg. Free with paid museum admission or join us virtually via Zoom for $10. Call (928) 684-2272 for Zoom registration. Free for members.
About the speaker: Dr. Eduardo Pagán is the current Arizona State University Senate President, Bob Stump Endowed Professor of History at the School of Humanities, Arts, and Cultural Studies, and is the Adjunct Curator of History at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum.
