Near Canyon in Randall County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The Civilian Conservation Corps at Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, November 18, 2015
1. The Civilian Conservation Corps at Palo Duro Canyon State Park Marker
Inscription.
The Civilian Conservation Corps at Palo Duro Canyon State Park. . The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a New Deal program developed under the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide jobs to the unemployed during the great depression of the 1930s. The program was initially designed to employ young men and after grew to include World War I veterans. The CCC was just what was needed to improve the 15,000 acres that had been recently acquired by the State of Texas for the establishment of Palo Duro Canyon State Park. The first three companies of CCC enrollees, made up of World War I veterans, arrived in Amarillo via train on July 11 and 12, 1933. After setting up their camp, the first task for the early workers was the construction of the road from the rim of the canyon to its floor. The fourth veterans company arrived in December of 1933., The early veterans groups at the canyon were initially integrated, but the African American troops were reassigned to Sweetwater, Texas in 1934. Two companies of segregated African American enrollees arrived from east Texas in August 1935. the final group of workers to labor in the canyon was comprised of youth members, and when the group left the park in December 1937, the project at Palo Duro Canyon was one of the few to include workers from each of the three special groups – veterans, African Americans and juveniles., The projects completed by the CCC from 1933 until 1937 included public buildings (such as El Coronado Lodge) and cabins constructed of native sandstone, roads, bridges, culverts and hiking and bridle trails. Many of which are still in use today.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a New Deal program developed under the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide jobs to the unemployed during the great depression of the 1930s. The program was initially designed to employ young men and after grew to include World War I veterans. The CCC was just what was needed to improve the 15,000 acres that had been recently acquired by the State of Texas for the establishment of Palo Duro Canyon State Park. The first three companies of CCC enrollees, made up of World War I veterans, arrived in Amarillo via train on July 11 and 12, 1933. After setting up their camp, the first task for the early workers was the construction of the road from the rim of the canyon to its floor. The fourth veterans company arrived in December of 1933.
The early veterans groups at the canyon were initially integrated, but the African American troops were reassigned to Sweetwater, Texas in 1934. Two companies of segregated African American enrollees arrived from east Texas in August 1935. the final group of workers to labor in the canyon was comprised of youth members, and when the group left the park in December 1937, the project at Palo Duro Canyon was one of the few to include workers from each of the three special groups – veterans, African Americans and juveniles.
The
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projects completed by the CCC from 1933 until 1937 included public buildings (such as El Coronado Lodge) and cabins constructed of native sandstone, roads, bridges, culverts and hiking and bridle trails. Many of which are still in use today.
Erected 2009 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 16005.)
Location. 34° 58.758′ N, 101° 41.481′ W. Marker is near Canyon, Texas, in Randall County. Marker can be reached from State Hwy Park Road 5, 0.8 miles south of Texas Highway 217. Marker is at Palo Duro Canyon State Park visitor center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Canyon TX 79015, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. The Civilian Conservation Corps at Palo Duro Canyon State Park Marker
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, November 18, 2015
4. El Coronado Lodge
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, November 18, 2015
5. Palo Duro Canyon
El Coronado Lodge and Marker can be seen in center of photograph.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 13, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 777 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 13, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.