Once called the ninth wonder of the world, the Oroville Dam - 770 feet high - is the tallest dam in the United States, beating Hoover Dam by more than 40 feet. Completed in 1967, and dedicated by Governor Ronald Reagan in 1968, the Oroville Dam is comprised of a concrete core and more than 80 million cubic yards of earth, mostly leftover mining tailings.  Although tours inside the Hyatt Powerplant are no longer allowed, the Lake Oroville Visitor Center offers programs and limited tours of the dam. Please call (530) 534-2306 for more information.  

The Lake Oroville Visitor Center complex sits atop Kelly Ridge and overlooks the lake and dam. The visitor center is staffed by knowledgeable guides and features a museum with interpretive displays on the Oroville Dam, area geology, wildlife and habitat, hydroelectric power, and cultural and historical artifacts. Visitors may view videos in the theater about the construction of Oroville Dam and other topics, walk or hike along nearby trails, and visit the 47-foot-tall observation tower that provides unsurpassed panoramic views of surrounding areas. Free guided tours for school and community groups are available by reservation. Parking and admission to the Visitor Center are free. For more information, please contact the DWR Oroville Guide Office at (530) 534-2306.”