Grand Coulee Dam
Time Needed: full-day, half-day
Experience Type: historic landmark, innovation
Spanning the Columbia River, Grand Coulee Dam is one of the largest concrete structures in the world. This engineering marvel powers millions of homes, irrigates vast farmland, and dazzles visitors with tours, exhibits, and a nightly laser light show celebrating the mighty Columbia River.
MUST-DO CHECKLIST
- Take a Free Guided Tour – Go behind the scenes on a 50-minute tour to see the dam’s operations up close and learn its incredible construction story.
- Explore the Visitor Center – Begin here for interactive exhibits, short films, and displays revealing how this engineering feat reshaped the Columbia River and powered the Northwest.
- Watch the Laser Light Show – From late-May through late-September, the free “One River, Many Voices” show transforms the dam’s surface into a dazzling storytelling canvas.
- Head to Crown Point State Park – Capture panoramic views of the dam, river valley, and giant sundial from this scenic overlook high above the Columbia River.
- Visit the Colville Tribal Museum – In Coulee Dam, explore exhibits celebrating the traditions, resilience, and artistry of the Colville Confederated Tribes who have long called this region home.
Itinerary Idea: Guided tours at the John W. Keys III Pump-Generating Plant run late May through October and fill quickly. Free, first-come, first-served tours last about an hour, with daily departures at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.
Photo Credit: Jason Hummel Photography/State of Washington Tourism