Big Sur, California: CCC's Wilderness Work, 1937

This silent film from 1937 captures the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in action at Big Sur State Park, California. It showcases the daily life and tasks of CCC members, from cooking meals on outdoor grills to the physical labor of digging drainage ditches, splitting logs, breaking rocks, and unloading supplies at their camp. The film illustrates their efforts in trail construction through dense forests, operating heavy machinery like power shovels, rollers, and tractors, and commuting to work sites in trucks. Alongside these scenes of labor, the film presents the natural beauty of Big Sur, including its mountains, forests, the Big Sur River, and a notable suspension bridge, while also showing tourists enjoying the park's scenic attractions.