Legacy of the New Deal

“The New Deal was an unparalleled epoch of government investment in public works, including infrastructure, civic buildings and parks, which left an immense legacy in every corner of the country.  Oregon has many fine examples of New Deal buildings, dams, and bridges done in a variety of styles, not to mention forestry and conservation works.  The Living New Deal is documenting and mapping the New Deal’s vast legacy –  much of which is still in use – to remind the American people of what is possible through good government. While the New Deal was imperfect on several grounds, such as race, gender and salmon, it was one of this quite imperfect country's finest moments and can still inspire us today.”

Richard Walker is Professor Emeritus of Geography at UC Berkeley, where he taught from 1975 to 2012. He is author of scores of articles and six books, including classics in economic geography and the development of California. His latest book is Pictures of a Gone City: Tech and the Dark Side of Prosperity in the San Francisco Bay Area (2018).  Walker's awards include Fulbright and Guggenheim Fellowships. He is currently executive director of the Living New Deal project.