Lake Murray Dam joins A-list group of landmarks with new historic recognition

LAKE MURRAY, SC (WOLO) — The Lake Murray Dam is receiving historic recognition — joining an A-list group of landmarks around the world.

Officials with the American Society of Civil Engineers and Dominion Energy unveiled the new marker on Wednesday afternoon, located at the edge of the boat park on the Irmo side of the dam.

Also known as the Dreher Shoals Dam, the ASCE now designates the structure as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

Cherri Defigh-Price with the ASCE  says construction on the dam began in 1925, and wasn’t complete until 1930 — held up by two massive back-to-back hurricanes.

“And this dam saved Columbia from flooding, when it wasn’t even done. Isn’t that cool?!” she asks.

So what’s the criteria for the over 100 pages long application? The structure must be over 50 years old, have historical significance, and unique civil engineering.

Coincidentally, Lake Murray Dam is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

“It was during a time when people needed to go to work between two World Wars, and it provided a lot of jobs and stability and income for this reason, but the main reason was to electrify South Carolina. South Carolina, as much as it is today, much as it was back then, growing, going — and the way to do it was through electrification,” says President of Dominion Energy SC, Keller Kissam.

The lake’s semi-hydraulic fill and clay base over granite or basalt helped the dam win out over the competition, as well as its sheer size.

“At the time, it was the biggest urban dam in the United States. The only one close to it was the Panama Canal,” says Defigh-Price.

Holding over 763 billion gallons of water when full, the 1.5 mile long dam led to the electrification of much of South Carolina and Georgia .

Around 300 landmarks have been recognized, including the Washington Monument, the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

For a complete list, click here.