Roll on Columbia

The story of how Woody Guthrie came to write 30 songs in 30 days for the Bonneville Power Administration is a story of the historic convergence of an American folk music icon and a public works project. Guthrie's observations on the harsh realities of the depression and the promise of harnessing the power of the Columbia River have become some of the most enduring anthems of Pacific Northwest history. Today there's much controversy surrounding the cultural and environmental impacts of dams, but at its time, hydroelectric power was an innovative, seemingly non-damaging solution.