Bridge Building with the CCC: From Hands-On Learning to Lasting Infrastructure

This educational silent film documents the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) at work on two significant bridge projects across an unidentified river, showcasing their role in both infrastructure development and vocational training.

The first project involves the construction of a reinforced concrete bridge. The film details the process from laying the foundations to pouring and setting the concrete, highlighting the meticulous steps involved in such construction.
The second project is a cable suspension bridge, where the complexity of the design is evident through the installation of cables, the erection of towers, and the careful balancing of the bridge deck.

Throughout the footage, the emphasis is on how CCC members are not only building these bridges but also acquiring valuable skills. The film captures moments of concrete work, heavy equipment operation, riveting, and welding, illustrating the breadth of trades the young men are learning. These skills are portrayed as beneficial for their future employment prospects, while the bridges they construct serve the community by improving connectivity and access to natural areas.

"Bridge Building with the CCC" is both a testament to the CCC's contributions to America's infrastructure during the Great Depression and an insight into the practical education provided to its members.