On this day in Alabama history: Alabama Power’s Smith Dam dedicated

Lewis Smith Dam is an earth-and rock-filled structure spanning the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River. The dam, which is 2,200 feet long and 300 feet high, was built during the late 1950s by Alabama Power Company and is named for Lewis Martin Smith, the company's president from 1952-1957. (Alabama Power Company Archives)
May 23, 1961
Construction of Smith Dam started on Nov. 25, 1957. The $29 million project was dedicated on May 23, 1961, and was named for company president Lewis M. Smith, who played an instrumental role in the planning and design process. The earth-and-rock-filled structure is 2,200 feet long and 300 feet tall, and is one of the largest dams of its kind in the eastern United States.
Lewis Smith Lake was formed as a result of the construction of the dam. The 21,200-acre lake passes through portions of Cullman, Walker and Winston counties in north central Alabama and provides added recreational opportunities for the area.
Read more at Encyclopedia of Alabama.

For more on Alabama’s Bicentennial, visit Alabama 200.