Lake Murray State Park was created between 1933 and 1940 by members of Civilian Conservation Corps Companies 1813 and 849, two of many companies organized by the federal government during the Great Depression. The program provided useful employment for thousands of young men while enhancing and preserving the nation's natural resources; CCC members were paid $30 per month, of which $25 was sent home, and they also received housing, food, medical and dental care, and educational benefits. One of Oklahoma's largest parks, it contains 21,000 acres of land and 6,000 acres of water. Built largely by 300 young CCC men over a period of 7 years, the park took shape as they carved rock for the dam, built shelters, picnic tables, roads, and trails, and landscaped the grounds. Their labor beautified the land and left a park that serves countless thousands of visitors each year.