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This exhibit at the Central Library focused on San Diego's water history and the importance of this precious resource to the region. "The Rainmaker, and other Stories of San Diego Water History" featured photographs and artifacts, displayed in the Second Floor Corridor Gallery of the Central Library, located at 820 E St. in downtown San Diego. The display was open to the public from June 11 through December 1, 2007.
Water rushing past the Sweetwater Dam, January 28, 1916. |
Members of the American Society of Civil Engineers at the Barrett Dam construction site, January 1921.
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This exhibit was the result of a 2004 agreement between the San Diego Public Library and the City of San Diego Water Department to preserve, inventory and catalog a collection of documents stored at the Alvarado Water Treatment Plant. The documents, which represent nearly 100 years of San Diego water history, include historic vintage photographs and negatives, blueprints, technical reports, correspondence, clippings from newspapers and magazines, and artifacts from the era of dam and pipeline construction in San Diego..
This collaboration was funded by the Water Department. Using the technical expertise of the San Diego Public Library staff, it has resulted in the cataloging and preservation of more than 125,000 items so far. The collection is truly a unique resource for students of the water history of San Diego.
The archiving of Alvarado Water Treatment Plant records was recognized by the American Public Works Association in 2006 as "Honor Award of the Year" and the City of San Diego Historical Resource Board for advancement of preservation of historical document. The County Grand Jury also commended the Library for its performance in executing the provisions of the agreement with the Water Department, stating "pictures and documents are an important part of San Diego history and deserve preservation."
Funded by the Water Department and using the technical expertise of the San Diego Public Library staff, this collaboration has resulted in the cataloging and preservation of more than 90,000 items so far. The collection is a unique resource for students and researchers of the water history of San Diego.
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