Construction of the Norris Dam started on 1 October 1933 and the dam gates were closed on 4 March 1936. The dam is 265 feet high and 1,860 feet long. When it was built the initial cost was $32,269,027. The Norris Reservoir was completely filled on 22 January 1937. Norris Lake has 750 miles of shoreline, and 50 miles of island shoreline. The maximum width is 1.2 miles with a surface area of 34,200 acres. The lake and dam were named after Nebraska Senator George W. Norris.