Wilson Dam

Wilson Dam was the first dam built across the Tennessee River.

Construction on the facility, which is named after President Woodrow Wilson, began in 1918 and was completed in April 1924. The purpose of the dam was to produce electricity to power two nitrate plants in the area for the country’s World War I efforts.

Construction began one year after the United States entered the war.

The dam also made navigation of the river safer and ended massive delays for water travelers. Ancient Roman and Greek architectural design is incorporated into the dam.

At one time, Henry Ford, a pioneer in the automotive industry, wanted to buy the dam. Ford’s plan was to use the electricity produced at the dam to run his automobile manufacturing plant. When local leaders refused to sell the dam, Ford returned to Michigan and developed what became a thriving industry in and around Detroit.

The Tennessee Valley Authority took over control of Wilson Dam in 1933 and quickly added 13 generators to add production capacity. The dam can now produce 675,400 kilowatts of electricity daily. The dam is 137 feet high and 4,451 feet long and boasts one of the highest single lift locks in the world. An overlook provides visitors with a view of barges and other vessels moving through the lock. Tours of the lock were discontinued shortly after the 9-11 terrorist attacks.