CENTENNIAL: Wilson Dam marks 100 years of use

Many things have changed over the last century, but one feature that has stood the test of time has been Wilson Dam on the Tennessee River.

The National Historic Landmark was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1918 and 1924 as a way to help support munitions production in World War I, which was ongoing when the project was started.

The dam was named after President Woodrow Wilson. It began commercial use on Sept. 12, 1925.

Tennessee Valley Authority acquired Wilson Dam in 1933 — TVA’s largest conventional hydroelectric facility — making it a cornerstone of a plan to unify the Tennessee River system and modernize the region through rural electrification, flood control and economic development, according to the company.

Today, the dam’s 21 generating units can produce enough electricity to power 380,000 homes and businesses across the Tennessee Valley.

“Wilson Dam has stood as a symbol of American ingenuity and resilience for 100 years,” said Don Moul, TVA President and CEO. “The plant’s enduring contributions to energy, navigation, flood control, and supporting job creation and industrial growth make it a living legacy of progress and prosperity.”

Wilson Dam is 137 feet high and stretches almost a mile across the Tennessee River.

The main lock has a maximum lift of 100 feet, making it the highest single-lift lock east of the Rocky Mountains.

Along with the auxiliary lock, more than 3,700 vessels and 11 million tons of goods pass through Wilson’s locks each year.

TVA owns Wilson Lock and partners with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to operate and maintain the navigation facilities.

“The Corps of Engineers is very proud of its legacy of constructing this monumental dam with flood risk management, hydropower and navigation benefits,” said Lt. Col. Guillermo Guandique, USACE Nashville District commander. “The Corps most notably remembers the men and women who built and maintained this important asset and joins TVA in celebrating a century of operations at Wilson Dam.”

Wilson Dam Reservoir provides 166 miles of shoreline and 15,500 acres of water surface for recreation,

TVA is in the process of extending the life of the plant for decades by refurbishing units as part of the Hydro Life Extension Program to improve dam safety, increase hydro generation output, and fulfill TVA’s mission of service to the Valley.

“Wilson Dam is more than concrete and turbines – it represents innovation, perseverance, and community,” said Tabatha Lolley, Wilson Dam Plant Manager. “As we celebrate its centennial, we honor the generations who built and supported this historic power plant and remain committed to continuing its long-standing impact of transformation and service to the people of the Tennessee Valley.”