Angeles National Forest near Santa Clarita in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

St. Francis Dam Disaster Site

Photographed by Konrad R Summers

1. St. Francis Dam Disaster Site Marker

Inscription. The 185-foot concrete St. Francis Dam, part of the Los Angeles aqueduct system, stood 1½ miles north of this site. On March 12, 1928, the 185-foot high concrete dam collapsed just before midnight, sending 12½ billion gallons of water roaring down the Santa Clara River Valley 54 miles to the ocean. This was one of California’s greatest disasters: Over 450 lives were lost.

Erected 1979 by State Department of Parks and Receation, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, U.S. Forest Service, and The Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society. (Marker Number 919.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1928.

Location. 34° 32.103′ N, 118° 31.529′ W. Marker is near Santa Clarita, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Angeles National Forest. It is on San Francisquito Canyon Road 9 miles north of Copper Hill Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 32300 North San Francisquito Canyon Road, Santa Clarita CA 91390, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

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 one mile of this marker, measured as

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the crow flies: St. Francis Dam (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); San Francisquito Canyon (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Lives That Were Lost (approx. one mile away); Geology of the Canyon (approx. one mile away); The Aftermath (approx. one mile away); Night of the Disaster (approx. one mile away); Construction of the Dam (approx. one mile away); William Mulholland (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Clarita.

Another marker is no longer nearby. St. Francis Dam Disaster Site (was approx. one mile away but has been confirmed missing).

More about this marker. Marker plaque is mounted on an actual piece of the broken dam, and can be seen behind a fence at Power Plant #2.

Regarding St. Francis Dam Disaster Site. Recent research has found the number of lives lost was 430.

On March 12, 2019, the Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Monument was established. Fundraising is underway to build a visitor center at the site.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. — St. Francis Dam Disaster sites.

Also see . . .
1. Thesis by Ann Stansell. A detailed look at the human loss. 2014. (Submitted on October 3, 2025.)

Photographed by Konrad R Summers

2. St. Francis Dam Disaster Site Marker

2. St. Francis Dam Disaster. Articles and videos on SCVHistory.com (Submitted on September 10, 2019.)

3. National Public Radio. Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the disaster, National Public Radio presented a documentary complete with interviews and first person accounts of the event. (Submitted on May 14, 2010.)

Additional keywords. Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial and National Monument

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 8, 2019

3. St. Francis Dam Disaster Site Marker

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 8, 2019

4. St. Francis Dam Disaster Site Marker

Ruins of the St. Francis Dam image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Konrad R Summers, March 15, 2009

5. Ruins of the St. Francis Dam

St. Francis Dam image. Click for full size.

6. St. Francis Dam

7. St. Francis Dam

After the flood, the center section was still standing.

Power Plant #2 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Konrad R Summers, March 15, 2009

8. Power Plant #2

Destroyed by the flood and rebuilt.

Nearby Marker image. Click for full size.

2017

9. Nearby Marker

At the fire station next door to Power Plant 2.

Memorial Marker image. Click for full size.

1990

10. Memorial Marker

A few miles south, in a private family cemetery. Erected by the Newhall Cowboys, including silent film star William S. Hart.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 13, 2010, by Konrad R Summers of Santa Clarita, California. This page has been viewed 6,695 times since then and 140 times this year. Last updated on December 21, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1. submitted on October 1, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2. submitted on May 13, 2010, by Konrad R Summers of Santa Clarita, California. 3. submitted on September 10, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4. submitted on September 11, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on May 13, 2010, by Konrad R Summers of Santa Clarita, California. 6, 7. submitted on September 10, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 8. submitted on May 13, 2010, by Konrad R Summers of Santa Clarita, California. 9, 10. submitted on April 1, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.