BOISE -- A Boise landmark, Arrowrock Dam, was honored by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) on Thursday as the first national historic civil engineering landmark in Idaho.
The dam joins more than 200 wonders all over the world, such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Panama Canal for creativity and innovation in the way it was designed and built.
Arrowrock set the bar for other projects that followed and to this day, it is crucial to the Treasure Valley. It was a marvel of its time and 101 years later, it is standing the test of time. Experts say it is an engineering feat that accomplished an impossible dream - made possible by countless hours and energy.
Today, it is esteemed for testing the technological limits of its time.
"A lot of the innovations in dam building were first used in this dam," President of Southern Idaho Section of American Society of Civil Engineers, Ryan Van Leuven, said.
Design elements and construction methods used on this project were later applied to other dams across the West.
"The dam was designed for a 50-year lifespan and we've doubled that." Arrowrock Division Supervisor Michael Anselme said.
At the time Arrowrock Dam was built in 1915, it was the highest the world at 350 feet. It held that title until 1932 when another dam surpassed it.
"It's in a very good condition and we want to just keep maintaining the dam and utilize it for future service," Anselme added.
The dam was open for a rare public tour on Thursday as it was being recognized by ASCE, taking people back in time and up and down the 300-plus stairs inside.
Arrowrock is not only important for the civil engineering profession, but it's vital to our community.
"It provides a lot of the irrigation water and storage and flood control," Van Leuven told KTVB. "If it wasn't here we would probably have a lot more frequent and severe floods."
The Bureau of Reclamation operates the dam and says Arrowrock has helped shape the Treasure Valley's agricultural and farming industry.
"There would be no way to store that water without having a dam of this size," Anselme added.
Today, Arrowrock Dam is still serving the same purpose it served 101 years ago and is providing the Treasure Valley with recreation and access to the things we all enjoy so much.