Originally known as Boulder Dam, a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the U.S. states of Arizona and Nevada. When completed in 1936, it was both the world's largest electric-power generating station and the world's largest concrete structure. It was surpassed in both these respects by the Grand Coulee Dam in 1945. It is currently the world's 35th-largest hydroelectric generating station.

This dam is named after Herbert Hoover, who played an instrumental role in its construction, first as the Secretary of Commerce and then later as the President of the United States. Construction began in 1931 and was completed in 1936, more than two years ahead of schedule. The dam and the power plant are operated by the Bureau of Reclamation of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981, Hoover Dam was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985.

Lake Mead is the reservoir created behind the dam, named after Elwood Mead, who oversaw the construction of the dam.

During the concrete-pouring and curing portion of construction, it was necessary to circulate refrigerated water through tubes in the concrete. This was to remove the heat generated by the chemical reactions that solidify the concrete, since the setting and curing of the concrete was calculated to take about 125 years if cooling was not done. Six Companies, Inc., did much of this work, but it discovered that such a large refrigeration project was beyond its expertise. Hence, the Union Carbide Corporation was contracted to assist with the refrigeration needs.

While working in the tunnels, many workers suffered from the carbon monoxide generated by the machinery there. The contractors claimed that the sickness was pneumonia and was not their responsibility. Some of the workers sickened and died because of the so-called "pneumonia". Most are uncounted on the official death list.

There were 112 deaths associated with the construction of the dam. There are different accounts as to how many people died while working on the dam and who was the first and last to die. A popular story holds that the first person to die in the construction of Hoover Dam was J. G. Tierney, a surveyor who drowned while looking for an ideal spot for the dam. Coincidentally, his son, Patrick W. Tierney, was the last man to die working on the dam, 13 years to the day later. Ninety-six of the deaths occurred during construction at the site. However, another surveyor died prior to construction, while surveying a potential location for the dam, and these statistics do not include other incidental and coincidental (heat stroke, heart failure, etc) deaths during construction

The Discovery Tour of Hoover Dam is where you experience the very pit of Hoover's mighty belly, see how it was constructed, and the impact this Dam has on the country. You can explore the shops, purchase souvenirs and other trinkets, get a bite to eat at the concession stands, watch a brief film about the history of the dam in a theater or just browse across edge of the dam. There are lots of little places to see around the west side of the Dam. We'll get most or our best photos from the east side, where there is usually lots of free parking.

• Hoover Dam Visitors Center is open year round except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Hoover Dam
Seventh Wonder of the World

Who has not heard of the legendary MIGHTY Hoover Dam. Seventh Wonder of the World of engineering. For many years you've been able to drive across the Dam as a throughway from either Arizona to Nevada, or from Nevada to Arizona. Being able to drive across Hoover without paying a fee, will not always be the case I am thinking once the overhead freeway is completed. Millions and millions drive across this Dam every year and over 1,000,000 people a year frequent the tours. There is a marker on Hoover Dam where you can stand with one foot on the Arizona side and one foot on the Nevada side to visit both states at once! A great place to advertise Levi's.

Below is some information that I've gathered over the years, mostly photos from activity around the Dam. Sadly, some of this you may not be aware of, or realize about the recent trials of the great Hoover Dam. It isn't holding much water up these days behind those mighty walls.

We've had 2 marina's on Lake Mead that had to close due to low water levels. The fact is, it doesn't make Hoover Dam a bit less interesting. It's still an amazing wonder of the world, truly a site to behold that will keep you thinking for days to come.

The photo above was taken December of 2008, the photo below was taken in February of 2006. In the span of just 2 years, notice the water level on the side of Hoover Dam as noted by the arrow below (compare). What does this mean? I don't know about how much water a 10' drop is in 2 years but would guess it to be substantial. The water level even as noted by the alkaline watermark on the side of the rocks attest to one honest fact, Lake Mead is in trouble and residents of Las Vegas are being squeezed harder and harder about water conservation. This is the reason why. We are running out of water. It isn't a joke, it's the real world that we live in today. Vegas Wash? Gone...

If it isn't water level's threatening Hoover, it's the threat of terrorism.

As you can imagine, if there was construction happening at Hoover Dam, it would be a very big project and guess what, it was. Construction is everywhere around Las Vegas, all the time. The amazing construction project around the Dam is mostly finished now days. During the bridge construction, high winds took one of the HUGE cranes shown below to the ground.

Imagine one of these guys coming down.

Strong wind gusts across Black Canyon on September 15, 2006 appear to have been the cause for the collapse of the "high-line" crane system used to carry people and materials at the bridge site. No injuries occurred. Limited work resumed in October 2006, but the cranes' collapse caused a two-year construction delay.

03/26/2009

03/19/2010

The Hoover Dam visitors center and parking garage location. The parking garage holds only 400 vehicles, parking is very limited. Hoover Dam encourages the use of Tour Buses to come out and visit. We encourage the use of VVMT Motorcycle Tours.

Many aesthetic improvements have been made around the Dam of recent years to give it's visitors a much more pleasant experience.

Check points before and after crossing the dam must be crossed. Large Semi-Trucks are not even allowed over the Dam these days. As you can see, this handsome security guard is there to insure rules are followed and to check vehicles. Vehicles are pulled over and completely searched if they are crossing the Dam with any kind of cargo or Motorhome. If they refuse to be searched, they will not be allowed across and can turn you around.

Security Projects and Hoover Dam management are by a government controlled agency called the BUREAU OF RECLAMATION and has been handling these affairs, including the tours since 1931.

Another construction project on both the east and west side of the Dam is now over. The road leading down into the dam from the east has also been closed. The only entrance is from the west end now.

Premiere Valley Tour - Hoover Dam Discovery Tour

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