Bagnell Dam

Bagnell Dam is a dam across the Osage River in Miller County, impounding the Lake of the Ozarks with its highly branched shores. The structure houses eight turbines within a long powerhouse built of concrete, generating electricity through the flow of water.

Construction started in 1929 when a private company financed the project during the economic depression and employed thousands of workers. Completion in 1931 created one of the largest man-made bodies of water of that era and permanently altered the landscape of central Missouri.

The construction transformed a sparsely settled river valley into one of the Midwest's most frequented leisure regions, now drawing visitors from many states. Towns along the branching shoreline developed shapes and identities shaped largely by the reservoir, and the flow of guests continues to define their character today.

The crest of the structure is open to foot traffic and offers views of the water on both sides as well as the turbine hall below the crown. On sunny days a walk in early morning or late afternoon proves rewarding, when fewer visitors are present and the light is more favorable.

A control room at this location remotely operates a pumped storage facility some distance away, coordinating power generation across multiple installations simultaneously. This central monitoring allows the grid to balance demand peaks more flexibly and to use generating capacity more efficiently.

Location: Miller County

Elevation above the sea: 197 m

Length: 775 m

GPS coordinates: 38.20444,-92.62306

Latest update: December 17, 2025 11:10