Near Akeman Crossroad in Rhea County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Watts Bar Turbine

By Tom Bosse, January 17, 2021

1. Watts Bar Turbine Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

This is one of four original turbines installed at Watts Bar Dam when in was constructed in the 1940s. this turbine - the one for Unit 4 - was placed here with a crane in 2014 when a new, modern turbine took its place in the dam.

Built by Baldwin Locomotive Works, each of the complete, original turbines provided 42,000 horsepower and weighed nearly 1.3 million pounds.

Erected by Tennessee Valley Authority.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 35° 37.216′ N, 84° 47.119′ W. Marker is near Akeman Crossroad, Tennessee, in Rhea County. Marker is on Watts Bar Highway (Tennessee Route 68) 0.8 miles east of Watts Bar Drive, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Spring City TN 37381, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Watts Bar (within shouting distance of this marker); The Rhea County Spartans (approx. 6.6 miles away); Meigs County War Memorial

By Tom Bosse, January 17, 2021

2. Watts Bar Turbine Marker

(approx. 7.3 miles away); Wheeler's Crossing (approx. 7.3 miles away); Washington Ferry (approx. 7.7 miles away); a different marker also named Washington Ferry (approx. 8.2 miles away); David Campbell Memorial (approx. 9 miles away); Grandview Normal Institute (approx. 9 miles away).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Watts Bar Turbine image. Click for full size.

By Tom Bosse, January 17, 2021

3. Watts Bar Turbine

Watts Bar Dam image. Click for full size.

By Tom Bosse, January 17, 2021

4. Watts Bar Dam

By Tom Bosse, January 17, 2021

5. Watts Bar Dam

By Tom Bosse, January 17, 2021

6. Watts Bar Dam

By Tom Bosse, January 17, 2021

7. Watts Bar Dam

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 31, 2021, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 53 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 31, 2021, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 7. submitted on February 1, 2021, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.