Calderwood Dam

Calderwood Dam is a concrete arch structure completed in 1930 that spans the Little Tennessee River and stores water for power generation. The facility operates through a tunnel system that conveys water from the reservoir to a powerhouse positioned downstream.

Aluminum Company of America built the dam in 1930 to supply power for aluminum smelting operations in the region. The Tennessee Valley Authority later took over operations and integrated it into the broader regional system for electricity production and river management.

The structure represents an important piece of regional industrial development when electricity was still being distributed through private enterprises. Today, visitors can see how this engineering achievement shaped the landscape and energy production patterns of the valley.

The structure can be viewed from roads in the area, but visitors should be aware of uneven terrain and stay safely back from edges. Wear sturdy footwear and exercise caution around the water system, as this is an active power-generating facility.

The powerhouse sits nearly 2 kilometers downstream and is fed by a tunnel carved directly through the mountain. This hidden pipeline represents the engineering sophistication of private industrial construction at a time when large-scale infrastructure was not yet managed by government agencies.