If the Hoover Dam wasn’t already on your bucket list, you should add it immediately. I’ve had the Hoover Dam on the to do list for a while, but after today I’m regretting not having done it sooner. I’ve watched my fair share of documentaries about the dam, but I clearly underestimated the benefit of touring it. Built in the midst of the Great Depression, the Hoover Dam is one of America’s great national investments. It’s hard to imagine what America would look like today without the dam. Odds are cities such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Los Angeles wouldn’t look anything like they do today. The construction of the Hoover Dam fundamentally changed the American Southwest, transforming what was once considered a barren wasteland, into some of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States.
When first visiting the dam, it’s hard to prepare yourself for its colossal size. Despite being an iconic American landmark, one which almost everyone has seen pictures of, the size surprises you. How could they have built something of this scale in the 1930s? The second thing that surprises you is how aesthetically pleasing the dam is, both the exterior and interior. This is by design. Built during the Great Depression, the dam was designed to serve as a national monument, one that would boost the spirits of a struggling nation. From the beginning this wouldn’t be just a dam, but something the American people could visit. This intention is visible in a number of surprising architectural features; the art deco design, the gold elevator doors, the terrazzo floors, and the black marble walls. All add to the experience of touring one of the world’s great engineering marvels.
One of the first stops on the official guided tour of the Hoover Dam is the power plant. There are actually 2 power plants, one each on the Nevada and Arizona sides. Together they produce over 4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity every year, enough to serve 1.3 million people. The dam was the largest hydroelectric installation in the world from the time it was completed until 1949.
After touring the power plant, you take a trip deep inside the dam. Most people don’t realize it, but there are actually miles of tunnels inside of the Hoover Dam. One of the coolest is a ventilation tunnel, where you can actually look outside from the face of the dam (see above). The tour guides also like to tease some of the more salacious interior spaces that are off limits to the public. Maybe I can talk somebody into a VIP tour for my second trip.
I think my personal favorite from inside the dam is the “Stairway to Heaven”. This is a stairway that leads all the way to the bottom of the dam and is over 700 steps long. Workers used these stairs during construction, as the elevators weren’t yet operational. Most of the guides have walked the length of the stairs at least once. The consensus seemed to be a round trip on the stairs takes about 45 minutes. If you can imagine working on the construction of Hoover Dam, trekking up and down these stairs in 100 plus degree heat, it gives you a new appreciation for elevators.
After finishing the interior portion of the tour, the final stop is the very top of the dam. Here you can see views of Lake Mead and the dam’s intake towers. This part of the tour was less exciting for me, as I’ve seen the back of the dam via jet ski multiple times, but if you’ve never been it’s very cool.
All in all I was very impressed with the tour of Hoover Dam. I learned quite a bit, and the experience of walking inside the dam is really cool. The Hoover Dam is only 35 minutes from the Las Vegas strip, so if you’re interested, it’s a very easy detour when visiting Vegas. The dam is very easy to access, with a parking garage conveniently located right next door to the Visitor Center. I would also highly recommend you make a stop at the Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, which probably has the best views of the dam. There is a parking lot for the bridge just a few minutes from the dam. It’s well worth the extra couple minutes, to get an aerial view of the Hoover Dam, from high above the canyon.
That’s very cool, it’s now on my list. How far down is the water level from “normal”?
It’s down 175 feet from its peak. Lake Mead is now at only 30% capacity. Standing on top of the dam and looking down it’s amazing how much water is gone.
Like that you are posting video’s now too. 😊
Kathy’s grandfather, Ogden Young, was one of those guys who worked on the construction of Hoover Dam. Her Dad, George Young, was born in Las Vegas in 1938 while his dad was working on the Dam. Ogden later went on to work on another famous concrete marvel which has been seen by millions more than have seen Hoover Dam… the Disneyland Matterhorn.
Now, David and Jennifer are moving from the Summerlin side of Las Vegas (where the Triple A ball park is located) to Henderson, on the east side of Vegas. Hoover dam will be about 25 minutes from their new house. I’m sure we’ll go there soon!
That’s awesome, I had no idea.