All the marketing materials describe Hoover Dam as an "engineering feat" and that is no lie.
HOOVER DAM IS AN ENGINEERING FEAT!
I am just in awe of this structure ... the dam itself, how it generates electricity for a number of states and the fact that they completed it in just FIVE YEARS! And that includes THREE years to build the infrastructure to divert the water from the Colorado River and then another TWO years to built the dam itself. And this was from 1931-1936! If this sounds like a diss to Oahu's rail, yeah, it's kinda a diss. LOL.
Some interesting facts I learned during the tour:
- Hoover Dam borders between Nevada and Arizona. While you are crossing the dam, a few steps will put you in a different time zone.
- The dam is located in Black Canyon. It was originally named Boulder Dam, but renamed Hoover Dam after President Herbert Hoover.
- The dam wasn't built by one company, but a consortium of companies that formed Six Companies, Ltd. and about 21,000 workers.
- Work was done 24/7 in three shifts.
- The first concrete pour was on June 6, 1933 and last pour was done on May 29, 1935. During peak production, concrete was delivered every 76 seconds.
- I could go on and on, but you can read more on the Hoover Dam Wikipedia page.
I'll list some pricing info at the end of this post, but for now, let's start with some pictures:
When you first enter the Hoover Dam area, you come upon a little parking lot with a path going up the mountain. This is the access point to the by-pass bridge. If you want to skip the by-pass bridge, then keep driving. Otherwise, turn into the parking lot.
The parking lot includes several bathrooms, but they are compost bathrooms and you pretty much "go" into a big hole. Don't worry, there is a toilet and the bathrooms are very clean, but there's no water so you don't flush and you "wash" you hands with hand sanitizer. Anyway . . . this switchback path reminds me of hiking Diamond Head.
View from the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge (aka Hoover Dam by-pass bridge). The bridge was built to help alleviate traffic between Las Vegas and Arizona using Hoover Dam. As you can see, the bridge sits high above Hoover Dam and you can walk across it. This bridge is a feat in itself. Read more about it here.
Electrical towers nestled into the mountain side.
The bypass bridge from Hoover Dam.
Looking down the dam.
View of Lake Mead from Hoover Dam.
Here is the state line marker. You can actually be in two states at the same time!
Two of the four water towers that intakes water from Lake Mead to make electricity.
Tunnel inside of the dam. It's naturally chilly down there!
There is water flowing through these pipes!
Turbines creating electricity!
The Logistics
Ok . . . here's the logistics of Hoover Dam, bullet point style for easy reading:
- It's about a 45 minute drive from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam.
- There is a five story parking garage that costs $10 to park. You can also drive over the dam to the Arizona side to park for free.
- On the ground floor of the parking structure is a gift shop and a snack shop.
- You can walk on the dam at no charge.
- If you opt for tours, there are three options (prices are as of the date of this post):
- Self-Guided Visitor Center Tour - $10: gives you access to the two visitor centers.
- Guided Power Plant Tour - $15: in addition to the two visitor centers, you can take of tour of power plant within the dam (pictured above). This is the tour we purchased.
- Guided Dam Tour - $30: gives you the first two tours above and then through the tunnels within the dam.
- For the first two tours listed above, you can purchase tickets online, and when you get there, you can upgrade to a higher tour. The Guided Dam Tour can only be purchased on-site and I believe there are limited tickets to this tour.
- More into can be found on the Bureau of Reclamation website.
More posts from this trip:
Of all the times I’ve gone to Vegas I’ve never been to the Hoover dam! Will need to check it out one day.
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