Workers had to dig out observation tunnels beneath the spillway section of the dam. This photograph shows their cramped conditions. (Courtesy, University of North Alabama, Collier Library Archives and Special Collections.)

Early construction on Wilson Dam required heavy machinery to erect concrete foundations. (Courtesy, University of North Alabama, Collier Library Archives and Special Collections.)

This view of the Wilson Dam powerhouse reveals a row of hydroelectric turbines. Today, Wilson Dam can produce a maximum of 663 megawatts of power using twenty-one turbines. (Courtesy, University of North Alabama, Collier Library Archives and Special Collections.)

Here, a man stands near a turbine, underlining its size. (Courtesy, University of North Alabama, Collier Library Archives and Special Collections.)