The western United States has been the site of some of the most ambitious public works projects in the country’s history. One only need think of massive structures such as the Hoover Dam or the Grand Coulee Dam to be reminded of the strong human desire that compels various groups of individuals to harness and control water. This latest digital collection from the University of Washington’s Digital Collections group showcases images of hydroelectric power and water supply facilities built in the state of Washington from the 1890s to the 1950s. Among its 695 images, visitors will find construction photographs of the Snoqualmie Falls Power Plant, plans for the “Seattle Water System”, and the Lower Baker River development, which was built with steam donkeys and dynamite. Understanding of these developments in public works (and the photographs themselves) is greatly enhanced by an accompanying essay on the construction of these edifices by noted local historians Paul Dorpat and Genevieve McCoy.