Dave Roos Archives

Stories

Featured

The California Water Wars: How LA Got Its Water Supply

When the L.A. Aqueduct was completed in 1913, it was celebrated as an engineering marvel, but it drained distant watersheds to ensure its own precarious survival.

How the Great Fire of 1910 Changed How the US Fought Wildfires

When a historic fire roared over more than 3 million acres in Montana, Idaho and Washington, the US Forest Service called for suppressing all fires.

The Destruction and Construction That Created New York’s Central Park

Building New York City’s 843‑acre park involved sledgehammers, gunpowder and thousands of plantings. The project also forced out a community of African American residents.

The 5 Longest Caves in the World

The longest cave system winds for more than 400 miles, but others on the list haven’t even been fully explored yet.