The Dam That Broke in 45 Minutes: St. Francis Dam

On March 12, 1928, a cathedral of engineering became a weapon of mass destruction. To the casual observer, the St. Francis Dam was a masterpiece. Standing 200 feet tall, it held the "savings account" of water that would keep Los Angeles alive. But hidden within the canyon walls, a deadly geological war was taking place. In this episode of Mega Masons, we dissect the anatomy of America's worst civil engineering disaster of the 20th century. We explore the rise of William Mulholland—the "Emperor of Water"—and the fatal math that led to the death of over 400 people. From the dissolving red sandstone of the foundation to the terrifying 12-billion-gallon flood wave that scoured the valley to bedrock, this is the story of what happens when arrogance meets physics. #StFrancisDam #EngineeringDisaster #WilliamMulholland #CivilEngineering #LosAngelesHistory #Documentary #MegaMasons