History of Asmus Boysen and Boysen Dam

Asmus Boysen was born in Copenhagen Denmark in 1868.

He settled in Illinois and married Anna Leet in 1889.

He later moved to Iowa where he became a millionaire and was elected to the Iowa General AssemblyAssembly.

Anna and Asmus had 9 children, of which only 4 survived.o y su v ved.

In 1899 Asmus secured a grazing lease of 78,000 acres from In 1899 Asmus secured a grazing lease of 78,000 acres from the Shoshone and Arapaho Indians.the Shoshone and Arapaho Indians.

On March 3, 1905, 640 acres was acquired by Mr. Boysen On March 3, 1905, 640 acres was acquired by Mr. Boysen where the original dam was constructed.where the original dam was constructed.

He later built a house and resided on the West side of the He later built a house and resided on the West side of the i j t th f th ld di j t th f th ld driver just south of the old dam.river just south of the old dam.

Asmus believed that he could provide power for mining Asmus believed that he could provide power for mining ventures in the area the towns near by and irrigation in theventures in the area the towns near by and irrigation in theventures in the area, the towns near by, and irrigation in the ventures in the area, the towns near by, and irrigation in the region.region.

At that time there were approximately 500 mining claims inAt that time there were approximately 500 mining claims inAt that time there were approximately 500 mining claims in At that time there were approximately 500 mining claims in the area that required electricity to conduct the mining the area that required electricity to conduct the mining operations.operations.

BOYSEN RESERVOIR AREA BEFORE DAM CONSTRUCTION

ORIGINAL BOYSEN DAMORIGINAL BOYSEN DAM

Cleaning of rock slide on Highwayg y

Moving Building across damdam

Trash rack… Used to clean the spill way

Visitors inside the Old Dam

Th D L t d B Hi hThe Dam Located By Highway Tunnels

Highway tunnel throughHighway tunnel through Wind River Canyon

One of the First few to pass through the tunnel

Downstream of the Old Dam

Ab th Old DAbove the Old Dam

Silt from the dam is now used as the Lower and Upper Wind River Campgrounds

A steam shovel removing rock and debris from what is suspected to be the railroad.

Th t l th Wi d RiThe tunnels thru Wind River Canyon are cut thru solid Granite.

Removal of the pper str ct re ofupper structure of

the Old Dam

Th t t fThe upper structure of the dam had to be remover because the water would flood the railroad

William Sales, A B ’Asmus Boysen’s son-in-law

An Archeologist studyingstudying Petroglyphs in 1947

The DAM PRIVYThe lavatories were labeled

“Pointers” and “Setters”

The DAM BARBoth of these facilities

were located at the highway tunnels

SECOND AND PRESENT DAY BOYSEN RESERVOIR DAM 1952SECOND AND PRESENT DAY BOYSEN RESERVOIR DAM 1952

BOYSEN RESERVOIR TODAY

Beginning Construction of present Damof present Dam

Water Tank and railroad Care takersrailroad Care takers

House

BOYSEN POWER PLANT

Crawler used to removed trees in theremoved trees in the

present reservoir bottom

The Workers built two tree removal machinesremoval machines

One man with a machine ld l 5 dcould clear 5 acres per day

cutting trees up to 24 inches thick

Moving the railroad to the

present location

Construction camp in theConstruction camp in the Wind River Canyon

Building of the Railroad Tunnel

Another Construction Camp in the Wind River

Canyon

The Building of the Present Dam PowerThe Building of the Present Dam Power Plant

Construction camp located at the “S i B h”present “Swim Beach” area

The Bureau Camp located at the B S P kpresent Boysen State Park

Headquarters area

Bureau Camp

Steam shovel

MORE HAZARDS OF THE ERA

Intake of the present Dam Power Plant

The Control Center F th D PFor the Dam Power

plant

Preparing to go fishing!

A good days catch

Location of the old dam

Foot Bridge located near t d hi hpresent day highway

tunnels (Has Been R d)Removed)