Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Question: When Frank Brown built the first Big Bear Dam in 1884, the resulting lake earned a remarkable nickname. What was it?

Answer: “The Eighth Wonder of the World.” It was the largest man-made lake at the time. Engineers had declared the single-arch granite dam would never hold, though that claim is more legend than documented fact, and when it did, the achievement stunned observers. The original dam still stands today, with portions submerged beneath the larger 1912 replacement, depending on water levels.