Earlier this month, the Bureau of Reclamation took to social media to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Horsetooth Reservoir.

The reservoir, largest of the Front Range storage reservoirs in the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, is held back by four dams and one dike to create one of the most-popular recreation destinations in the state.

Construction on the dams at Spring Canyon, Dixon Canyon, Soldier Canyon and at Horsetooth Dam on the north end took place from 1946 to 1949, with Satanka Dike at the northwest corner of the reservoir rounding out the work.

Reclamation engineers used a prominent building inside the reservoir footprint to oversee construction. The Highland School (District 27) served students in Stout and its surroundings, reaching its highest enrollment in 1898. During a major renovation of the reservoir at the beginning of the 21st century, its foundation could be seen on the south end of the reservoir bottom.

Happy diamond anniversary, Horsetooth Reservoir!