Widely acclaimed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Industrial World, Hoover Dam remains among the largest hydroelectric dams ever built. The project was launched in 1931, and just five years later, the massive, arch-gravity dam was complete.
More than six and a half million tons of cement was poured to build the 726-foot tall dam. That’s enough cement to build a two-lane highway all the way from San Francisco to New York City, or enough to build a sidewalk that could go all the way around the Earth’s equator.
Even more impressive, Hoover Dam is 660 feet wide at the bottom, narrowing to only 45 feet at the top. What’s more, the unique curving arch of the dam pushes the massive force of the water into the solid rock walls of Black Canyon.
The project was launched during the depths of the Great Depression, as one of the many public works projects initiated at that time. In fact, as soon as the dam project was announced, Las Vegas (with a population of 5,000 at the time) had 10,000 to 20,000 unemployed men swarm the city, seeking work. Boulder City was carefully planned and built by the government, specifically to house the dam workers.
The building of Hoover Dam was a focal point of optimism for the country during the hard times of the Great Depression.
America’s Heartland was ravaged by the Dust Bowl, and projects like the dam stood as a beacon of hope. Likewise, the town of Boulder City was a physical manifestation of an optimistic future for the country as a whole.
Getting There
Take the I-515 south from Las Vegas. I-515 will merge into US-93 S/US-95 South. Keep going until you see exit 15B for US93 Business Route – Boulder City Pkwy. Stay in the right two lanes for the Boulder City Business District.
Once you’re in the historic town of Boulder city, why not stop by The Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum, inside the Boulder Dam Hotel. It’s located at 1305 Arizona Street.
The museum pays homage to the men and women who braved the extreme heat of the desert to build Hoover Dam and settle here in Boulder City. More than 100 people died building the dam, and their story is one of true American grit, determination, and vision.
Hoover Dam is another seven miles down the road; stay US Highway 93 to Nevada State Route 172. The dam is on the Nevada/Arizona border.
Once You’re at Hoover Dam
The first stop is the visitors center on the Nevada side of Hoover Dam. Parking in the garage will cost $10. However, oversized vehicles, such as motorhomes, or those pulling a trailer are not allowed in the garage. RVs need to park in a lot on the Arizona side; likewise, if you don’t want to pay for parking, you can park in the lot on the Arizona side, if you don’t mind walking back across.
Remember, Hoover Dam is a major tourist attraction, and there will be crowds. The least crowded months are January and February. The best time to tour the dap is from 9 am until 10:30 am. and in the afternoon, from 3 pm until 4:45 pm.
Entry into the visitor center is $10. At the visitor center, you can sign up for a guided tour; the guided tours are divided into a 30-minute tour of the power plant, or the 1-hour tour for the dam, the power plant, and the dam passageways.
The cost of the tours varies from $15 for adults for the 30-minute power-plant tour, with discounts for seniors, military and kids. However, the 1-hour tour is $30, and no children under the age of eight are allowed. Likewise, visitors with wheelchairs or on crutches are not allowed; this is due to the narrow passageways, which were not built with disabilities in mind.
Both tours begin with a short theater presentation about the building of Hoover Dam.
The Winged Figures of the Republic
The first thing you’ll notice outside the visitor center is the 30-foot tall, winged sculptures, aged with a verdigris patina. Part man, part angel, and symbolic of the strength of humanity, they serve as the guardians of Hoover Dam.
Most of the sculpture you see here is the work of Oskar J.W. Hansen, a Norwegian immigrant. As a part of the public works program, there was a sculpture contest for the public areas on the Nevada side of the dam, and Mr. Hansen won.
At the time, these were the largest single-cast bronze statues in the world. The angels sit atop a base of gleaming jet-black stone; the stone bases so heavy, a clever method had to be devised to get the placement just right. The stone bases were lowered by a crane on top of huge blocks of ice, which began to slowly melt under the hot desert sun. The slow melting allowed for tiny adjustments to maintain a perfectly level installation.
Mr. Hansen also designed the Art Deco terrazzo floor of an astrological star map perfectly aligned with the Nevada skies on the exact day President Franklin Roosevelt dedicated the dam on September 30, 1935. The plaque commemorating the men who died during the construction of the dam was also designed by Mr. Hansen.
There are many other sculptures, in, around and on the Hoover Dam, all of which have an interesting story to tell.
The Power Plant Tour
The Power Plant Tour begins with an elevator ride 530 feet down to the Penstock Viewing Area; the four penstocks are the huge pipes that bring the water in from Lake Mead. At this stop, you’ll all learn about the 30 foot wide pipes that move 90,000 gallons of water every second from Lake Mead into the dam’s hydroelectric generators. One thing you’ll notice, is the constant vibration of the room.
The tour then moves onto the balcony above the massive, gleaming, power plant generators. Hoover Dam’s power plant has 2 wings, one in Arizona and one in Nevada.
The total area of this massive power plant spans 10 full acres. The power plant has a total of 17 “Francis” turbines; these are like huge spinning fans, converting the energy of the moving water into mechanical energy. During the tour, you’ll see the eight turbines on the Nevada side. The turbines produce 2,080-Mega Watts of power.
You’ll also see the two station-service Pelton water wheels; these provide power for not only the visitor’s center, but also for the power plant operations, such as operating the lights, cranes, and pumps. The power plant also has two 1930s bridge cranes for maintaining the generators. Each of these cranes can lift 300 tons.
Standing above the whirring generators is a perfect place to take not only photos, but to also get some great video clips.
The Hoover Dam Tour
The Hoover Dam tour is more comprehensive; it’s a good option for anyone interested in finding out more about the inner workings of this magnificent dam. This one-hour tour not only includes the power plant tour, but also the opportunity to explore the original construction passageways within the dam.
After viewing the power plant, you’ll take an elevator ride down to the tunnels. There are many passageways and some have very low ceilings; if you’re close to 6’ tall you’ll have to duck at times to avoid hitting your head.
One passageway leads to the ventilation window, where you’ll get a glorious view of the rock forming the canyon, and onto Lake Mead.
Finally, you’ll get to see one of the dams many earthquake sensors; Hoover dam is built to withstand an 8.5 earthquake. The box is labeled, “Caution! Do not touch or kick. Earthquake sensor”.
The Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge
Coming or going, you’ll encounter the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. This bridge is also an impressive feat of engineering; it’s the longest concrete arch bridge in all of North America.
The bridge reroutes US 93 away from the top of Hoover Dam, eliminating the hairpin turns and blind curves from the old route across the dam. The bridge was named for Nevada Governor Mike O’Callaghan, and Pat Tillman, the Arizona Cardinals football player who enlisted in the Army and was killed in Afghanistan.
The bridge is just as visually breathtaking as the Hoover Dam, and it’s the best place to snap a picture; however, you won’t be able to see the dam as you’re driving across the bridge.
But if you park in the lot on the Nevada side of the bridge, you can walk on the pedestrian walkway to get a great picture of Hoover Dam.
Just walking on the bridge is a refreshing way to see not only the dam, but to experience the dramatic, rocky landscape of the desert. However, the pedestrian walkway is closed from dusk until dawn, for safety reasons.
A visit to Hoover Dam, Boulder City, and the bridge is a celebration of this country’s determination to succeed, as well as its genius and ingenuity. While it’s just an hour away from Las Vegas, you could easily spend all day exploring this historic corner of Nevada.
