Agamemnon at Coolidge Dam

Once the Gila and Salt Rivers flowed pretty much year-round, making the Phoenix valley a rich agricultural region for Hohokam and O'odham peoples. When the Anglos laid out Phoenix's water lines, they used the existing canals dug by the ancients. But today, thanks to irrigation and municipal diversions and wells, plus climate change, these rivers sacred to the old peoples are mostly dry.

The Coolidge Dam was built in 1935 on the Gila River, just before it flows north into a canyon, then west into the Phoenix basis where it is joined by the Salt River.

It must have been quite attractive in its heyday, with art deco ornamentation. Now it's quite run down, as if abandoned.

There's a campground that looks like it used to be popular destination. It's run down with only a handful of campers, a dinghy or two with bass fishermen, and picnic shelters by the boat launch that you would not want to use (the tables or the launch), unless you are a vulture.  There were several hanging around.