The U.S. Forest Service, working in conjunction with the Saint Francis Dam National Memorial Collaborative, announced a design competition for a new national memorial to recognize the hundreds of lives lost in the 1928 Saint Francis Dam Disaster.

One of California’s greatest disasters, the collapse of the Saint Francis Dam, near Santa Clarita, released over 12 billion gallons and a wall of water more than 10 stories high. Roaring down the Santa Clara River valley, it reached the Pacific Ocean more than five hours later. In its wake it left 54 miles of wreckage and took more than 400 lives. 

The Saint Francis Dam Disaster resulted in the second greatest loss of life in California history, after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, and is one of America’s most significant engineering disasters. 

The design competition will be open for 90 days, from Feb. 1 to April 30. The selected concept or design will be announced by summer 2021.

The U.S. Forest Service vision is for the memorial to serve both a commemorative and an educational function. More than just a plaque, the memorial should help the public learn about this significant historical event while placing the tragedy in its broader historical and national context. 

The U.S. Forest Service seeks a memorial design with a uniqueness unto its own and ultimately designed to inspire site visitors. The national memorial should also be reflective and contemplative in character, honoring those who perished and the families and communities affected by this tragic event.

Memorial designs will be analyzed by a contest committee. The committee will consist of U.S. Forest Service employees, Saint Francis Dam National Memorial Collaborative members, family members of disaster victims, and major stakeholders, such as Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power and Southern California Edison.

Congress authorized the establishment of the Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial in 2019. Administered by the U.S. Forest Service, within the Angeles National Forest, this will be the nation’s first national memorial on U.S. Forest Service land.

For more information, visit the Angeles National Forest website, or St. Francis Dam National Memorial Design Competition.