The Kentucky Dam Visitor Center reopened recently and serves as a place where visitors can learn not only about the dam itself, but also the broader history of TVA and western Kentucky.
TVA Bicentennial Volunteers Incorporated member Ralph Rose, a TVA retiree who worked at Kentucky Dam before retiring in 2007, said he began volunteering at the visitor center in 2013 when it reopened after being closed following the September 11 attacks.
click to download audioRose said the visitor center features videos about TVA’s role during World War II, exhibits explaining what the region was like before the Kentucky Dam was built, and displays showing the larger TVA system, including dams, hydroelectric plants, and powerhouses across the valley. He noted the center also offers educational materials, including cards that provide access to a virtual tour of the powerhouse and other historical information.
Rose said he remains proud of Kentucky Dam’s legacy.
click to download audioRose said the Kentucky Dam Visitor Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., adding that one challenge has been helping visitors find the entrance, noting the visitor center is accessed through the front double doors leading into the powerhouse at Kentucky Dam.
