Rivers have long been the lifeblood of the United States, carrying people, goods, and ideas across the nation. ASCE continues its interactive StoryMap series celebrating the country’s 250th anniversary with its third release, “Taming the Waters: How Inland Waterways, Dams, and Levees Built America.” The StoryMap traces the history of America’s inland waterways and showcases the civil engineering achievements that transformed natural waterways into vital transportation and flood management systems.
From the development of the Ohio River navigation system to the nation’s response to devastating floods and hurricanes, the StoryMap highlights pivotal moments that shaped the country’s infrastructure and future. Discover how generations of engineers balanced navigation, flood control, and public safety challenges while building the water infrastructure that remains essential to America’s prosperity and resilience today. ASCE extends a big thank you to members who shared their photographs and expertise for this StoryMap.
This StoryMap is part of ASCE’s America250 storytelling initiative, highlighting the engineering achievements that helped build the United States. It joins previous ArcGIS StoryMaps, including Paths to Prosperity and Flowing Forward.
