Norman Rockwell Glen Canyon Dam, 1969 Oil and earth on canvas 51” x 77”
Art has always been a powerful medium for storytelling, delivering insights into the human experience, civilization's evolution, and the landmarks that define our collective legacy. For the Bureau of Reclamation, art is not only a repository of beauty but also a testament to the agency’s historical significance and connection with the communities it impacts. Reclamation's fine art collection, featuring historical paintings and illustrations, serves as a reflection of the agency's mission and accomplishments over the past 122 years.
Reclamation, founded in 1902, has overseen the management of water resources across the American West, significantly contributing to hydropower production, agricultural development, water conservation, and flood control. Reclamation’s network of hydropower plants, dams, reservoirs and canals contributed to making the American West what it is today.
A prime example is the Minidoka Dam and Powerplant, described in the National Park Service’s Teaching with Historic Places as putting “the Snake River to work turning the power of falling water into electricity. The electricity was needed to pump irrigation water up to thousands of acres of sagebrush desert in southern Idaho.”
Equally important to this mission are the inspiring works of art produced in celebration of these achievements. Reclamation’s fine art collection includes pieces from notable American artists such as Richard Diebenkorn, Lamar Dodd, Michael Frary, Roland Petersen and Norman Rockwell.
In the late 1960s, Reclamation initiated an art program to document its achievements in water resource development and conservation efforts across the western United States. Under the guidance of Art Program Director John DeWitt and Dr. Lloyd Goodrich, 40 prominent artists were commissioned to create works inspired by Reclamation's projects, which included irrigation, hydropower, recreation, and wildlife enhancement. DeWitt called on the artists to, “convey to future generations a feel of the emerging west in the 20th century.”
Artists had the freedom to choose their subjects and styles, resulting in a diverse array of over 375 artworks. Notably, Rockwell contributed a piece featuring a Navajo family overlooking Glen Canyon Dam, highlighting the cultural and environmental significance of the site. In the early 1970s, many of these artworks were exhibited in a traveling show organized by the Smithsonian Institution, titled "The American Artist and Water Reclamation." While some pieces were returned to the artists, Reclamation retains a collection of over 200 artworks, with select pieces displayed in various Reclamation Regional Offices and the Norman Rockwell Museum.
Rockwell's painting depicts the monumental feat of engineering that the Glen Canyon Dam represented and invites social commentary on the legacy that continues to develop over time. Situated on the border of Arizona and Nevada, the dam was an instrumental project in the United States' advancement, providing water and electricity to millions.
As society progresses into a more digital age, the importance of modernizing traditional collections into online records cannot be overstated. Reclamation’s project aimed at digitizing its art collection, is to ensure these significant works are preserved for future generations while making them more accessible to the public. This initiative is a component of Reclamation's broader ongoing efforts to enhance its use of technology in the preservation and presentation of historical materials.
Organizational efforts to digitize the pieces began with archiving procedures aimed at preserving the physical artworks while allowing for wider accessibility without compromising integrity. This digitization effort includes high-resolution photographs, detailed descriptions, and historical contexts, enabling an expansive audience to appreciate these works of art and understand their historical significance.
In October 2024, with coordination of the Norman Rockwell Museum, Reclamation had the digitization of Rockwell's iconic depiction of the Glen Canyon Dam completed. Through a meticulous photographic process, the digital version of this masterpiece captures the intricate details and vibrancy of Rockwell’s original work, allowing it to be showcased widely online, in educational materials, and within future Bureau exhibitions.
By digitizing this and other works in the art collection, Reclamation is not only preserving it for posterity but also broadening its audience. Digital access allows students, educators, historians, and the general public to delve into the narratives surrounding these works. The digitization project enables Reclamation to provide educational resources that enhance understanding and appreciation of water development projects and their societal implications.
Reclamation’s Museum Curator Lauren McCaulou noted that the digitization process produced a series of images of the Glen Canyon work, including two large full-scale pieces and then smaller sections focusing on details within the painting, such as Glen Canyon Dam, the birds, and the family. Massachusetts-based photographer Jim Gipe with Pivot Media executed the project and used his experience photographing museum objects to deliver an incredible series of images for Reclamation’s digitized collection.
“Digitization of Norman Rockwell's Glen Canyon Dam went beautifully,” McCaulou said. “Jim is a highly skilled artist in his own right who captures outstanding digital images of these works of art. We’re fortunate that the Norman Rockwell Museum afforded us the opportunity to digitize Rockwell’s masterpiece, making it possible for a broader audience to experience fine art and view one our most iconic dams in a historically accurate context.”
The landscape is on display in an excellent, central location in the Norman Rockwell Museum and is said to be a regular stopping point for visitors to discuss and spend time. Paintings have the opportunity to convey more than aesthetic allure; they encapsulate poignant narratives of our shared history.
Reclamation’s collection serves as a cultural touchstone, illustrating the impact of American engineering on its landscapes and communities. The highlights of the collection tell stories not only about the agency's construction projects but also about the social and ecological impacts that remain visible throughout the West today. Another crucial aspect of this digitization project is community engagement. Reclamation is committed to having people feel connected to the history and ongoing mission of the agency. With the advent of digital platforms, the various collections—including Rockwell's work—can be displayed at community events, exhibitions, and educational forums, further embedding these stories into contemporary culture.
Accessibility means more than just public availability; it means creating avenues for varied perspectives and shared histories. As art is now being shared online, digital exhibitions allow local communities—especially those directly affected by Reclamation’s projects—to engage with their historical narratives.
Looking forward, the digitization project will not only focus on Rockwell’s monumental pieces but will also extend to other significant artworks within Reclamation's collection. Each digitized piece is meant to serve as a portal to understanding the historical context and significance of federal water projects. As new technologies continue to emerge, the ability to create immersive experiences through virtual reality, interactive maps, and detailed timelines will further enrich the audience's understanding.
Additionally, Reclamation plans to collaborate with schools, museums, and educational institutions to ensure that this treasure trove of art supports interdisciplinary learning, where art, history, and science converge. Partnering on workshops and educational programs will provide deeper insights into the legacies of engineering and community development exemplified across Reclamation's work.
Reclamation's art collection reveals a reflective narrative about America's development and its relationship with water resources. Through digitization, Reclamation is taking vital steps to ensure that these artworks are preserved and made accessible to a broad audience. This initiative underscores the importance of historical and cultural preservation, reaffirming the connection between communities and their shared past.
Reclamation is not just safeguarding art; it is enriching lives by integrating history into contemporary scholarship and community engagement. As each piece is digitized, it reaffirms that the artistic legacy of Reclamation is not merely about art in the past but serves as a bridge to a more informed future, where everyone can appreciate, observe, and learn from the monumental achievements of the agency and the stories behind them. Reclamation thanks photographer Jim Gipe and the Norman Rockwell Museum whose professionalism, skill and collaborative approach made this digitization project a reality.
Norman Rockwell’s Glen Canyon Dam – along with the many other works – can be seen in the Reclamation Art Collection Viewing Room.
