Fort Peck in Valley County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

The Slide of '38

The Day The Dam Gave Way

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 26, 2020

1. The Slide of '38 Marker

Captions: (upper right) Aerial view of Fort Peck Dam, looking toward the east abutment of the dam. This photo shows the extent of the slide that occurred in the upstream face of the dam.; (lower right) View looking west over Fort Peck Dam showing it at its final height. The tunnel control shaft area is in the foreground.

Inscription.
It was a quiet day, September 22, 1938, and work on the Fort Peck Dam was nearing completion. But the quiet would not last. At 1:15 that afternoon, the upstream portion of the east end of the embankment gave way.

As the earth started shaking, dredge pipes and railroad tracks shifted and sank. A massive section of the dam swung out into the pool, like a great earthen gate hinged on the east abutment. Machinery and men alike were swallowed up as 5 million cubic yards of earth slid out into the reservoir, forming an island.

Eight men lost their lives that day. Six are still buried in the dam. A board of inquiry met to study the accident, reporting that the slide's occurrence was due to the shearing resistance of the weathered shale and bentonite seams in the foundation that were insufficient to withstand such forces.

Thirteen months later, on October 11, 1940, the last load of material finalized construction of the dam, topping it out at a height of 250 feet. Since completion, Fort Peck Dam has proven to be a safe, stable and reliable structure.

Erected by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Topics. This

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historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Disasters • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is September 22, 1938.

Location. 48° 0.498′ N, 106° 24.014′ W. Marker is in Fort Peck, Montana, in Valley County. It is at the intersection of Yager Road and State Highway 24, on the left when traveling south on Yager Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Peck MT 59223, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Montana’s Missouri River Country.

It is also in the American Mountain West,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

on the Great Plains,

and specifically on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Fort Peck Dam (here, next to this marker); Built with Muscle and Muck (here, next to this marker); In Memory (here, next to this marker); Lewis & Clark in Missouri River Country

In Memory of Those Who Lost Their Lives in "The Slide" September 22, 1938 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 26, 2020

2. In Memory of Those Who Lost Their Lives in "The Slide" September 22, 1938

Oliver Bucher* • John I. Johnson* • Walter Lubbinge* • Archie R. Moir* • Douglas J. Moore • Dolphie Paulson* • Albert V. Stoeser • Nelson P. Van Stone*
*Forever Entombed in the Dam

(approx. half a mile away); Peculiar White Water Named the Milk River (approx. half a mile away); Summits of High Hills Were Covered with Pine (approx. half a mile away); With No Running Water the Stream was called Big Dry River (approx. half a mile away); Boomtowns on the Outskirts (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Peck.

Also see . . .
1. Fort Peck Dam. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on June 2, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Case Study: Fort Peck Dam (Montana, 1938). Association of State Dam Safety Officials website entry (Submitted on June 2, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 26, 2020

3. The Slide of '38 Marker

Partial Failure of the Fort Peck Dam As Seen From The Air image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Coles Photo

4. Partial Failure of the Fort Peck Dam As Seen From The Air

These monuments honor those who lost their lives building Fort Peck Dam image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 26, 2020

5. These monuments honor those who lost their lives building Fort Peck Dam

"...The chief reason, that I am glad to be out in these parts today to see the work in its inception; to see the fine spirit of all the people who are engaged in the work. That is why, also. that I am very confident it is going to be carried through to the success and glory of the nation."

President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Excerpts from August 6, 1934 speech at Fort Peck Dam

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 26, 2020

6. These monuments honor those who lost their lives building Fort Peck Dam

1933 : Victor Carlson
1934 : Dan Anderson • Adolph Berg • Lloyd F. Burke • Clarence Eggum • Wayne McMillan • Neil F. McNeil • Martin P. Risa • Oliver Spracklin • Russell L. Taulbee • Joseph B. White • Oliver Winsky

1935 : Ray A. Berube • George S. Boston • Lewis Davis • Clarence L. Fly • Arthur Kveseth • Clarence Livingston • Arthur N. Olson • George Peart • George W. Rush • Donald W. Swartz • Emerald K. Wheatley

1936 : Clarence C. Bernau • Sydney G. Conyers • Purley H. Dickson • Ferdinand L. Hickel • John Hunnewell • Wyatt B. Jones • William Stevens • Frank E. Torres • Herbert J. Young

1937 : Henry C. Annan • Elmo Bailey • Harry J. Christianson • Glenn Cummins • Louis Eibon • Raymond F. Hagen • Leonard LaJoie • John Lindgren • Charles B. Reed • Roland Schumacher • Maurice Weinrich

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 26, 2020

7. These monuments honor those who lost their lives building Fort Peck Dam

1938 : Oscar Bilstad • Kendall Bissell • Howard Brown • William Chamberlain • Jesse L. Kimmel • Gregory Leichner • A.E. Phares • Sye F. Sirianni

1939 : William H. Mackey
1940 : Delbert Beardsley

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 26, 2020

8. These monuments honor those who lost their lives building Fort Peck Dam

Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 8, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 2,864 times since then and 96 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on December 8, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.