Nearly years ago, President Franklin Roosevelt announced the New Deal, launching a decade-long structure wave that created parks, public art, monuments, and more.
“We are surrounded by the legacy of the New Deal. It is hidden from view of all,” says Susan Ives of Living New Deal (livingnewdeal. org), an organization that documented more than 16,000 projects of the time, listed on its mobile app. .
The group founded at the University of California at Berkeley has also published art and architecture map guides for Washington, D. C. , New York and San Francisco, which can be purchased online.
Ives and his colleagues share some notable sites with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.
Morrison, Colorado
Generations of music enthusiasts have witnessed performances under the stars at this amphitheater west of Denver, built through workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration, who moved more than 50,000 cubic meters of earth and rock to shape the site.
“It’s absolutely exclusive and acoustically very better and it’s carved in stone,” says ives. U2, Dave Matthews and Stevie Nicks are among those who have recorded performances here.
More details: redrocksonline. com
Washington DC.
Washington has many New Deal sites, from the National Zoo to the Jefferson Memorial, but even government workplace buildings have something for visitors. Standing limestone statues called “Man Who Controls the Trade”, appear as a muscular human suffering from subduing a fleeing stallion.
More details: ftc. gov/about-ftc/our-history/building-images
Government Camp, Oregon
This handcrafted ski cottage on the hillside of Mount Hood has been called the “crown jewel” of the New Deal, with a wooden interior built around a 92-foot stone fireplace. The internal artworks come with carved and inlaid wood, forged iron, fabrics, paintings, mosaics and stained glass. Dedicated through President Franklin Roosevelt in 1937 and now a National Historic Landmark, it receives visitors year-round.
More details: timberlinelodge. com
Rapid City, South Dakota
The New Deal created giant structures like dams and bridges, but it also had a touch of fantasy. How else can we the seven giant prehistoric creatures grazing on a sandstone ridge overlooking Rapid City?The concrete population of Dinosaur Park still celebrates the numerous paleontological discoveries. of the Area.
More details: blackhillsbadlands. com/business/dinosaur-park
San Francisco
A museum controlled through the National Park Service is now located on the site of the San Francisco Water Park. Originally built as a public bath, the modern and elegant construction resembles an ocean liner and includes colorful works of art animated across the depths of the sea.
More details: nps. gov/safr
San Antonio
One of the most popular projects in Texas, the River Walk has decorated and preserved the San Antonio River, creating a linear park under the street point with bridges, sidewalks and thousands of plants. Funded through works progress administration, downtown’s park is now covered with restaurants and shops.
More details: visitasanantonio. com
Izmir, Delaware
The New Deal created dozens of national safe havens for wildlife, adding this intertidal swamp along the Delaware Bay. The safe haven built through a separate team from the Black Civilian Conservation Corps, which shaped the park from the swamps. along the east coast.
More details: fws. gov/refuge/bombay_hook/
New York
The zoo, the largest of more than 30 New Deal projects in New York’s famous park, was completed in just 8 months. It was conceived as a small-scale “image book zoo” to attract children. of original construction, adding the sea lion pool and gift shop, located in the original bird house.
More details: centralparkzoo. com
Los Angeles
In a city known for its stars, you can pay tribute to some of the world’s leading scientists at the Griffith Park Observatory. “The CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) made a lot of paintings there,” Ives says. “It’s an amazing space. ” The monument, which features six astronomers in addition to Copernicus and Galileo, was designed through an organization of six local artists, in addition to George Stanley, who also created the Oscar statuette.
More details: griffithobservatory. org
San Luis
Made with a 50-foot metal arch and cantilevered glass walls design, this art deco masterpiece attracted national attention when it opened in 1936. The building, officially known as St. Louis Floral Conservancy, renovated about 20 years ago, and features seasonal flower displays. It is also a popular place for weddings.
More details: stlouis-mo. gov/government/departments/parks/parks/Jewel-Box. cfm