Mystic Lake Powerhouse: The Power of Perspective

Apr 29

By 1920, Billings served as a hub of industry and was among the most populous cities in Montana. In response to the region’s growing demand for energy, the Montana Power Company constructed the dam and powerhouse at Mystic Lake between 1923 and 1927. The impoundment facility accelerated economic growth by delivering reliable power 75 miles north to Billings and nearby population centers. The dam transformed the landscape when it added more than 20 feet in depth to the small mountain lake and flooded the valley and surrounding lowlands. Perched high in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, the powerhouse’s Classical Revival architectural style exemplifies Montana industrialists' work to harness nature during the early twentieth century.

THE POWER OF PERSPECTIVE – Montana’s industrial-scale hydroelectric power history began with the 1890 construction of Black Eagle Dam on the Missouri River. Impoundment hydroelectric facilities support industry, recreation, and electrify the nation. The resulting inundation displaces people, food sources, and traditional ways of life, and drastically changes the environmental and cultural landscape.

https://mhs.mt.gov/Shpo/celebrate-preservation

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