Bonneville Dam
Following the natural beauty of the scenic gorge and waterfall, we were amazed at the manmade forceful beauty of the Bonneville Dam complex. One of the results of the Depression-era New Deal projects, Franklin Roosevelt officiated at the dam's opening in 1938.
What we didn't realize is that there are actually two parts of the dam, each with its own visitor's center. The first one (above) shows the power-generating station and the locks, and has a small museum, theater, and bird observation area (ospreys nest here). But if you get back on I-84 and go a couple of miles north, you find a second entrance to the area (below), with a different visitor's center, along with guided tours inside the power plant!
The tour is really very fun, as well as educational. Our Army Corps of Engineers guide explained how the generators work, then led us through the actual physical plant, including a chance to walk across the top of one of the generators. The light on top indicates the generator is functioning.
At both locations are below-water-level observation windows so you can watch the large salmon (and eels) swim up-river through the fish ladders.