Near Truth or Consequences in Sierra County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Elephant Butte Dam

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 21, 2011

1. Elephant Butte Dam Marker

Inscription. Pueblo Indians irrigated and farmed the Rio Grande Valley for several hundred years before the Spaniards arrived and continued the tradition. Built between 1910-1916, Elephant Butte Dam when completed was the world's largest irrigation reservoir. It was the first large-scale effort to harness and control the Rio Grande, and its construction was critical to the historic debate over interstate and international aspects of water use.

Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the ASCE Civil Engineering Landmarks series list.

Location. 33° 9.158′ N, 107° 11.432′ W. Marker is near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, in Sierra County. It is at the intersection of State Road 177 and State Road 51, on the left when traveling east on State Road 177. Marker is at a pullout overlooking the south end of the dam. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Truth or Consequences NM 87901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest New Mexico and in the Rio Grande Valley.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Fort McRae 1863-1876 (approx. 2.1 miles away); Truth or Consequences (approx. 3.4 miles away); Elephant Butte Lake State Park

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(approx. 3.7 miles away); "Magnificent Magnolia" (approx. 3.8 miles away); Healing Arts (approx. 4 miles away); New Deal History (approx. 4.7 miles away); Carrie Tingley (approx. 4.7 miles away); a different marker also named Truth or Consequences (approx. 6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Truth or Consequences.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Magnolia Ellis, “Magnificent Magnolia” (was approx. 3.8 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Rear of Elephant Butte Dam Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 21, 2011

2. Rear of Elephant Butte Dam Marker

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 21, 2011

3. Elephant Butte Dam Marker

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 21, 2011

4. Elephant Butte Dam Marker

Elephant Butte Dam and Powerplant image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 21, 2011

5. Elephant Butte Dam and Powerplant

1912 to 1916 -- 1938 to 1940
Capacity 2,109,000 acre feet - Height of dam 301 feet
Surface area 36,521 acres
United States
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Reclamation
Rio Grande Project - New Mexico - Texas

Elephant Butte Dam image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 21, 2011

6. Elephant Butte Dam

cmh2315fl via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0), December 27, 2015

7. Elephant Butte Dam Marker

National Historical Civil Engineering Landmark Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 29, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 27, 2011, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,042 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 27, 2011, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 7. submitted on April 27, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.