The Progress Dam Historical Society was founded in 1950 to preserve and maintain the history of Progress Dam. The Society was organized several months after construction activities at the dam were paused, at which point it was agreed that the history to date should be kept properly.

The Society's collection includes photographs of the dam site from 1944 to the present. The photographic collection is current and continues to grow. The collection also includes artifacts from the December 4, 1944 groundbreaking, including the ceremonial shovel, which has not been used since. An oral history program records the recollections of residents who remember October 9, 1949. Recollections of the years since are also being recorded, as time permits.

The President of the Society is Natalie Hanawalt, who has served since 2015. Ms. Hanawalt joined the Society at a regular meeting and was elected President at the same meeting. She is the youngest member of the Society by a considerable margin. Members describe Ms. Hanawalt as “very sweet.” She has strong opinions on the presentation of historical materials and has shared them. The Society has expressed complete confidence in this outcome, and continues to.

Ms. Hanawalt has indicated that she has no plans to retire. The Society has begun preliminary planning for her eventual retirement celebration, which members agree should be significant.

The Society meets on the first Tuesday of each month. The collection may be viewed by appointment. Appointments are readily available.

Collage of a beaver. Artist unknown. Donated to the collection.

The places Progress Dam left behind.

The following are no longer current. The Society maintains records of each.

When asked about the Society's work, Natalie Hanawalt said, “The history is maintained.”