Sylmar in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The Cascades
Photographed By Craig Baker, August 14, 2019
1. The Cascades Marker
Inscription.
The Cascades. . On November 5, 1913, 40,000 people gathered here to witness the dedication of the Los Angeles - Owens River Aqueduct. The terminus of a 233-mile long engineering marvel, the Cascades were the site of William Mulholland‘s famous speech: “There it is, take it!“ An extension completed in 1940 brings water 338 miles from the system’s northernmost intake near Tioga Pass. Since 1917, significant hydroelectric power has also been generated by the aqueduct system. The water supplied by this aqueduct transformed Los Angeles from a city of 300,000 to nearly 4 million and led to the growth of Southern California as a whole. Environmental challenges, mandates, and projects have resulted in modifications to aqueduct operations. Despite reductions in water deliveries, the aqueduct remains a critical part of the city’s present and future water supply and protecting the Owens river watershed will continue to be a major activity of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
On November 5, 1913, 40,000 people gathered here to witness the dedication of the Los Angeles - Owens River Aqueduct. The terminus of a 233-mile long engineering marvel, the Cascades were the site of William Mulholland‘s famous speech: “There it is, take it!“ An extension completed in 1940 brings water 338 miles from the system’s northernmost intake near Tioga Pass. Since 1917, significant hydroelectric power has also been generated by the aqueduct system. The water supplied by this aqueduct transformed Los Angeles from a city of 300,000 to nearly 4 million and led to the growth of Southern California as a whole. Environmental challenges, mandates, and projects have resulted in modifications to aqueduct operations. Despite reductions in water deliveries, the aqueduct remains a critical part of the city’s present and future water supply and protecting the Owens river watershed will continue to be a major activity of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
Erected 2013 by E Clampus Vitus; and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. (Marker Number 653.)
Location. 34° 19.36′ N, 118° 29.845′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Sylmar. Marker is on Foothill Boulevard, 0.1 miles west of Balboa Boulevard, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 17001 Foothill Boulevard, Sylmar CA 91342, United States of America. Touch for directions.
this marker. This marker was unveiled on the 100th anniversary of the aqueduct, in a ceremony attended by DWP aqueduct employees (including me, -CB). This marker replaces the missing California State Historical Landmark No. 653, dedicated in 1958. This is Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 742, designated in 2003.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. - The original California Historical Landmark plaque.
Additional keywords. California State Historical Landmark No. 653
Photographed By Craig Baker, August 14, 2019
3. The Cascades
The original aqueduct cascades are at left. The cascades at right are part of the second aqueduct built in the 1960s.
Photographed By Craig Baker, August 14, 2019
4. National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark
First Owens River - Los Angeles Aqueduct. Marker placed by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1971.
courtesy DWP - LA Public Library Image Archive, November 5, 1913
5. Aqueduct Dedication in 1913
Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 810 times since then and 89 times this year. Last updated on January 23, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 14, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
