in praise of atoms

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I ordinarily try to find a date tie-in that relates in some way to the history of various forms of communication, or to the development of digital technologies. This month's column fits neither of these, but instead gives credit to one of the most important engineering achievements of the 20th century. It was on this day, in 1935, that the Hoover Dam was dedicated. Though I'd like to, I've never visited the Hoover Dam. I have, however, read much about it, both on and off the web. It has an elegance that seems a true mark of modernism, and a functionality that seems downright anachronistic today. But perhaps that's what's truly beautiful about it. In it's own way, it's majestic. Yet somehow, it can't stand alone. For good or for bad, it demands to be interpreted. One fascinating interpretation can be found here. A very lenghty historical overview, almost without interpretation, can be found here. Good general introductions to the dam, with lots of photographs, can be found here and here.

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Go to: 72 hours offline.