Iconic Teton Dam Flood Photo Gets 50-Year Reunion Story This Summer in Rexburg
REXBURG, Idaho — A photograph taken in the chaotic hours following the collapse of the Teton Dam on June 5, 1976, has become one of the most recognized images tied to the disaster — and the group of young people captured in it are planning to gather again this summer to mark half a century since that day.
Brothers Brian and Brent Gibson, along with nine friends, gathered at the corner of Main Street and North 2nd East in Rexburg around 3 p.m. that day, just hours after the dam gave way and sent a wall of water through the region. The resulting photograph has taken on an iconic quality for generations of East Idaho residents familiar with the story of the Teton Dam failure.
The Man Behind the Camera
The photographer, Steve Wasden — who now lives in Pocatello — had a personal connection to Rexburg at the time, as his father operated a business in the city. Wasden has shared his recollections of what brought the group together that afternoon, including the unlikely detail that he had a camera with him at all — a notable circumstance in a pre-cellphone era when personal photography required deliberate preparation.
Wasden has spoken about the aftermath of the collapse, the cleanup efforts that followed, and why he believes the disaster continues to deserve remembrance nearly five decades later. He has expressed anticipation about reconnecting with the group for the planned reunion this summer.
Memories of a Defining Disaster
The Teton Dam collapse remains one of the most significant infrastructure failures in Idaho history. The earthen dam, located on the Teton River northeast of Rexburg, gave way on the morning of June 5, 1976, while the reservoir behind it was filling for the first time. The resulting flood caused widespread destruction across the Sugar City and Rexburg areas, displacing thousands of residents and leaving a lasting mark on the communities of eastern Idaho.
The Gibson brothers have added their own recollections to the historical record, describing what they witnessed and experienced on that day and in the days that followed. Their accounts, along with Wasden’s, offer a personal dimension to an event that has often been told through official reports and news archives.
This summer’s planned reunion will bring the original group back to Rexburg to retake the photograph at the same location where the first image was captured. The 50th anniversary gathering reflects a broader wave of commemorative activity surrounding the disaster milestone across the region.
The Teton Dam collapse and its legacy have drawn renewed attention in 2026, with various community efforts underway to honor those who lived through the flood and to reflect on the rebuilding that followed. Infrastructure concerns remain relevant across eastern Idaho, where aging roads and bridges continue to draw public attention and government resources.
For longtime residents of Bonneville County and surrounding communities, the Teton Dam story is more than history — it is a defining chapter in East Idaho’s identity, one that shaped how the region thinks about water management, federal projects, and community resilience. The upcoming reunion and the story behind the photograph offer a rare, firsthand window into the human experience of that catastrophic day.
What Comes Next
The reunion is expected to take place this summer in Rexburg, with the group planning to return to the original corner of Main Street and North 2nd East to retake the photograph on or near the 50th anniversary of the dam’s failure. Additional commemorative events marking the Teton Dam collapse anniversary are anticipated across eastern Idaho in the coming weeks. For broader Idaho infrastructure and community news, visit Idaho News.