Goldendale Aluminum Plant Site, Washington

Goldendale was one of several large aluminum plants built near dams along the Columbia River, in this case the John Day Dam, which collectively produced the majority of aluminum made in the USA, some of which was consumed by the aircraft manufacturer Boeing, making most of its planes in Seattle (which it still does). Mined alumina, the source of aluminum, was shipped here from India, Australia, and Jamaica. At its production peak in the 1970's and 1980's, the plant employed well over a thousand people. By 2001, both production and the workforce had to be significantly reduced due to falling global aluminum prices and increasing electricity costs, ultimately resulting in the plant's closure in 2003. Demolition work was begun in 2011, and was completed in 2012.