Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Great Depression
Following the end of WWI in 1918, Texas' economic machine, as well as the nation's, was
humming right along. The surge in private automobiles made for an enormous Texas oil
boom, and people were dancing the Charleston in the streets.
Then, on Black Thursday, October 24, 1929, the New York Stock Exchange hiccuped
and the bottom fell out of the economy. The crash, the result of unchecked Wall Street trad-
ing practices, led the US and the world into the Great Depression. Northern Texas was part
of the region that became known as the 'dust bowl,' as former farmland was destroyed by
overuse and lack of rain. Increased oil production caused a market glut that further de-
pressed prices.
As part of Roosevelt's New Deal, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and Civil-
ian Conservation Corps (CCC) were created. The WPA sent armies of workers to construct
buildings, roads, dams, trails and housing. The CCC worked to restore state and national
parks. The cabins and other lodging in state parks such as Caddo Lake and Davis Mountain
date from this time.
