On behalf of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, HRA wrote a history of Locks and Dams 52 and 53—the last of the Ohio River wicket dams. From 1929 to 2018, these dams operated using wood “wickets” that could be raised or lowered to assist river navigation. They were among more than fifty moveable dams to make the river consistently navigable for commercial towboats and barges. Operating the dams was demanding and dangerous work, and for many years, dam tenders lived on-site with their families on park-like “reservations.” Over time, the Corps replaced the river’s old wicket dams with more modern structures, but Dams 52 and 53 became indispensable and were pressed into service long past their design lives. HRA is proud to present the history of these installations and the people who lived, worked, and sacrificed there.