Gillette in Campbell County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
Flood Waters Under Control
Burlington Lake
| | Burlington Lake Trail | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 29, 2022
1. Flood Waters Under Control Marker
Flood waters from the overflowing Burlington Ditch caused thousands of dollars in damage after rapidly melting snow overflowed between Kendrick and Carey Streets in January 1943. The ditch at this point was eight feet deep. Some of the heaviest damage was to the Gillette Cottage Camp on Second Street whose many cabins were all flooded. The water was rapidly brought under control when dynamite was discharged into the side of the ditch releasing the flood water east of the city limits on the Roy Hardy land. After the flood, the water in the ditch froze at street level providing some of the best ice skating opportunities.
Erected by Campbell County Historical Society and Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1943.
Location. 44° 18.127′ N, 105° 29.441′ W. Marker is in Gillette, Wyoming, in Campbell County. It can be reached from the intersection of East Warlow Drive and North Osborne Avenue, on the left when traveling east. The marker is on the Burlington Lake Trail at McManamen Park.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin. It is also in the American Mountain West, on the Great Plains, on the Northern Plains, and specifically on the High Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Disposal of the Ditch (a few steps from this marker); City Acquires Ditch Lands (approx. 0.2 miles away); 1912 Flood Disaster (approx. 0.2 miles away); Improvements After the War (approx. 0.2 miles away); Gillette Beautification (approx. Ό mile away); Fred & Florence Hicks Homestead (approx. Ό mile away); Dog-Banning Proposal (approx. 0.3 miles away); McManamen Park Walkway Improved (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gillette.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related
Courtesy Rockpile Museum
2. Marker detail: Burlington Ditch in downtown Gillette
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 29, 2022
3. Flood Waters Under Control Marker
Looking northeast from the Burlington Lake Trail.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 24, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
