When President Franklin D Roosevelt took office in 1933, the country was in the midst of the Great Depression. He immediately began programs designed to provide relief. One of the first programs he implemented was the creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC. Young men would be hired by the government to work for the public good. They would be fed, housed, taught a skill, and paid $30.00 a month, $25.00 of which they would send back to their families.
Mission Tejas - A CCC built repreoduction of an early Spanish Mission
The Governor of Texas saw the potential and requested men for her State. Between 1933 and the beginning of WWII, over 50,000 CCC enrollees served in Texas, and helped to create the Texas State Park system. Of those early CCC parks , 29 still remain.
Brownwood State Park
In many cases the CCC built the parks from the ground up, creating roads, buildings and dams. The worked as much as possible with local materials, often using stone from the park.
The Spillway at Cleburne State Park
Many of those buildings still stand today, a testament to their skill and artistry. CCC architecture had a distinctive style, that blended well with the natural setting. The buildings usually feel like an organic part of the park, rather than a modern intrusion. So much of the character of these parks comes from these structures.
The Bathhouse at Balmorhea State Park
Ren and I love this legacy of the CCC and make a point to visit the remaining structures and appreciate their beauty and utility. These structures are not museum pieces but are still in active use today.
The CCC Built Swimming Pool at Balmorhea State Park
Texas is not unique in its CCC legacy. Wherever we travel we find parks, buildings, bridges, and lakes, built by the CCC and still in use today. There are probably examples near you. Take a moment to visit one of the parks, and enjoy this lasting legacy.
The Spring at Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Oklahoma
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