Near Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Old Bear Valley Dam

Photographed by Craig Baker

1. Old Bear Valley Dam Marker

Inscription. In 1884 Frank Brown built an unusual dam here to supply irrigation water for the Redlands area. The single-arch granite dam formed Big Bear Lake, then the world’s largest man-made lake. Engineers claimed the dam would not hold, and declared it “The Eighth Wonder of the World” when it did. The old dam is usually underwater because of the 20-foot higher dam built 200 feet west in 1912.

Erected 1982 by California State Parks; E Clampus Vitus; U.S. Forest Service; San Bernardino County Museum; and Big Bear Valley Historical Society. (Marker Number 725.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the E Clampus Vitus series lists.

Location. 34° 14.519′ N, 116° 58.572′ W. Marker is near Big Bear Lake, California, in San Bernardino County. It is on Big Bear Boulevard (Route 18) 0.1 miles east of North Shore Drive (Route 38). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Big Bear Lake CA 92315, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles,

in the San Bernardino Mountains,

in the Peninsular Ranges,

and specifically in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Champion Lodgepole Pine (approx. 1.6 miles away); Big Bear Solar Observatory

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(approx. 3.4 miles away); Big Bear Valley (approx. 4.7 miles away); B-26 No. 40-1475 (approx. 5.3 miles away); Grizzly Come Home Campaign (approx. 6.3 miles away); Whispering Pines Trail (approx. 6.6 miles away); People Came and Left This Meadow (approx. 6.6 miles away); Bellevill Holcomb Valley (approx. 6.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Big Bear Lake.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Holcomb Valley (was approx. 6.6 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Photographed by Craig Baker, 2017

2. Old Bear Valley Dam Marker

Photographed by Craig Baker, 2017

3. Old Bear Valley Dam Marker

Dam and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 9, 2022

4. Dam and Marker

Old Bear Valley Dam image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, 2017

5. Old Bear Valley Dam

The top of the old dam is visible in the lake when the water level is low. Dam Keeper’s House ruins are at top right, on a hill above the marker.

<i>Bear Valley Dam</i> image. Click for full size.

Hervey Friend (photo courtesy of California State Library), 1891

6. Bear Valley Dam

"Shows single-arch masonry dam constructed of granite ashlar with hearting of rubble, laid in Portland-cement mortar. Outlet from reservoir controlled by iron sluice-gate emptying into culvert. Sluice-gate operated from top of dam by stem passing through vertical pipe. Waste-weir excavated at south end of dam."

Dam Keeper’s House ruins image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 9, 2022

7. Dam Keeper’s House ruins

Credits. This page was last revised on September 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 11, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 1,711 times since then and 108 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 27, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2, 3. submitted on January 11, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4. submitted on May 13, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on January 11, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 6. submitted on January 15, 2019. 7. submitted on May 13, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.