America’s Last Top Model

11 CQ

In 1943, the Army Corps of Engineers began construction on a scale model that could test flooding in all 1.25 million square miles of the Mississippi River. It would be a three-dimensional map of nearly half of the continental United States, rendered to a 1/2000 horizontal scale, spanning more than 200 acres. It was so big that the only way to see all of it as once was from a four-story observation tower. Ryan Kailath paid it a visit.

Aired July 19, 2016

All 99% Invisible content is available at 99percentinvisible.org

  • Recommended Recommended
  • History & In Progress History
  • Browse Library
  • Most Popular Library

Get Personalized Recommendations

Let us help you figure out what to learn! By taking a short interview you’ll be able to specify your learning interests and goals, so we can recommend the perfect courses and lessons to try next.

Start Interview

    You don't have any lessons in your history.
    Just find something that looks interesting and start learning!

    13 Comments
    500 characters max

    Shannon D
    Flooding!
    appreciate appreciated
     –  reply
     –  delete
    500 characters max

    Shannon D
    Computer models are good enough? :) Maybe not based on flooring in recent years.
    appreciate appreciated
     –  reply
     –  delete
    500 characters max

    Candi M
    I never knew this existed! It is amazing!
    1 appreciate 1 appreciated
     –  reply
     –  delete
    500 characters max

    Yvonne B
    Wow, never knew. Based on the flooding issues of Louisiana a few years ago, and Texas just recently, I would think it could still serve as an invaluable tool of science. Somehow we should at least attempt to preserve it. What an awesome reference and reminder of our own great endeavors to overcoming natural challenges.
    1 appreciate 1 appreciated
     –  reply
     –  delete
    500 characters max

    Kevin M
    Very interesting. Who knew?
    1 appreciate 1 appreciated
     –  reply
     –  delete
    500 characters max