Planning for what became Clinton Lake began in 1962 with passage of the Flood Control Act, starting a whirlwind that divided the Douglas County community. Officials who lived through the devastation of the 1951 flood, acted on concern about projected urban growth, and saw the construction project as the only course of action. Citizens who lived in the seven communities eventually displaced by Clinton Lake fought the project and continue efforts to preserve the memories of their former homes. This exhibit explores the contentious creations of Clinton Lake using first-person accounts from those involved in the lake’s creation and the displaced communities.

Thank you to our exhibit sponsor Tom Harper!