Moffett Field Museum • Henry J. Kaiser & the Six Companies

Join us for an engaging Speaker Series presentation with local historian Ted Atlas as he explores the remarkable story of Henry J. Kaiser and the legendary Six Companies consortium—one of the most influential construction partnerships in American history.

Formed in 1931 to compete for the contract to build Boulder Dam (now Hoover Dam), Six Companies brought together some of the West Coast’s most experienced builders under the leadership of Henry J. Kaiser. Their work would go on to shape the American West through massive engineering projects including Hoover, Grand Coulee, Parker, and Bonneville Dams, the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges, the Caldecott Tunnel, and portions of the Colorado River Aqueduct.

The presentation will also examine Kaiser’s connection to Santa Clara Valley history through the creation of the Permanente cement plant near Cupertino. Originally established to supply materials for Shasta Dam, the operation would later lend its name to Kaiser Permanente—one of the most recognizable healthcare organizations in the country.

Ted Atlas, a San Jose native, combines decades of historical research with a passion for California and aviation history. A former member of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department, Ted is the author of Candlestick Park and has contributed extensively to aviation and preservation projects throughout California.

Discover the story of innovation, ambition, and engineering that helped build modern California.

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Host or Publisher Moffett Field Museum