Water for Thirteen Cities in the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Bird’s eye view of the Colorado River Aqueduct, one of the “Seven Wonders of American Engineering.”

Constructed between 1933 and 1939, the Colorado River Aqueduct is a 242-mile route that pumps water between Lake Havasu in Nevada and southern California. The complex system of canals, pumps, tunnels, and distribution lines was the region’s largest infrastructure project during the Great Depression, and a significant contributor to the postwar growth enjoyed by cities like Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Monica and Anaheim.

This colorful bird’s eye view was included as the fold-out cover of a booklet promoting the project, issued by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (the organization overseeing the construction and operation of the CRA). It shows the route of the water from source to destination, including the numerous pumps required to navigate the rugged topography.

The book is the second of three known states, issued in August of 1935, and includes numerous photographs and statistics. Prepared by Don J. Kinsey, Assistant to the General Manager, and printed by Young & McCallister in Los Angeles.