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Teton Dam Site/Flood Museum
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The Teton Dam was in the final stages of completion when it collapsed in June 1976. It had been built for flood control, power production, recreation and irrigation. During the spring of 1976 the snowmelt came faster than was expected. The water behind the dam found its way into cracks in the canyon wall and got beyond the grout walls that had been placed in the dam to prevent water seepage. Then the water got back into the dam itself. A spring near the bottom of the dam was then formed.
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The volume of the spring increased and moved up the north side of the dam until the crest was breached on June 5. The north side of the dam collapsed and the water for seventeen miles up the reservoir came thundering out. There were eleven official deaths accredited to the flood.
Two bills of two hundred million dollars each were passed by the U.S. Congress for funds for recovery. The dam still stands in the middle of Teton Canyon. The south side of it was removed by the Bureau of Reclamation to aid in their search for causes of the dam failure. Teton Dam is a 30 minute drive from Rexburg.
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The Teton Dam site is still accessible but no longer maintained. It is located 15 miles northeast of Rexburg on Highway 33.
The Teton Flood Museum is located in the basement of the historic Tabernacle in Rexburg. The Tabernacle was heavily damaged by the Teton Dam Flood and the LDS Church was considering tearing it down, instead it was sold to the City of Rexburg. A huge remodeling program in the early 1980's brought about the opening of the museum in the summer of 1982. It was named the Teton Flood Museum because of the extensive collection on display of memorabilia connected to the flood. All the films of the flood have been collected and are available for the public to view. The museum is a part of the Upper River Valley Historical Society and its offices are located there.
The hours of the museum are as follows:
September-April Monday- Friday 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
May - Aug Monday- Friday 10:00 am- 5:00 pm
June - Aug Saturday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
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