On August 3, 1933, the failure of a nearby dam sent a wall of water crashing toward Denver, eventually hitting downtown blocks with a wave estimated to be about 15 feet tall. The sudden flood would ultimately result in two deaths and widespread damage.
Located along Cherry Creek and about 30 miles south of downtown Denver, signs of failure were noticed at Castlewood Canyon Dam long before the deadly break occurred.
According to DamFailures.org, questions were raised about the dam shortly after its 1890 construction due to signs of settlement and cracks showing leakage. Safety concerns were raised, but the public was assured the dam was safe, even after a section of the dam was washed out. Repairs were made in 1897, but leakage could still be seen…