Lake of the Ozarks History

The Lake runs 92 miles from one end to the other (Bagnell Dam to Truman Dam) with over 40 miles of unobstructed tributaries and over 1,150 miles of shoreline.

The Lake came into existence over 65 years ago with the undertaking known as the Great Osage River Project. Construction of Bagnell Dam began on August 6, 1929 by Union Electric. In the midst of the Great Depression, some 4,600 employees labored day and night to build Bagnell Dam and what was, at that time, the largest man-made lake in the world, fed by the Osage, Glaize and Niangua Rivers. It was opened to the public on May 30, 1931.

The Willmore Lodge Visitor Center in Lake Ozark, a 1930's log cabin, contains a museum, cultural activities center, and offices of the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.