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)