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Explore an Engineering Marvel in the Hoover Dam

Published on March 06, 2012 by Jason Hussong, Writer

Country: United States

The Experience

The Hoover Dam is a modern engineering marvel; the arch-gravity dam backs onto the walls of Black Canyon and redistributes the force of nearly 45,000 pounds of pressure per square foot. Completed in 1936, two years ahead of schedule and decades ahead of its time, Nevada's Hoover Dam literally took an act of Congress - a marvel all its own - to complete. After the Hoover Dam location had been studied as a site to help prevent floods and produce hydroelectric power, the project was authorized in 1928.

You can head to the Hoover Dam from Las Vegas via Route 93, just east of Boulder city. A visit here is sure to bring out the kid in you. It's one of those monuments that lives immortally large in our memories. It's a place that at one point in time broke boundaries thought impossible by man, and spurred countless childhood dreams. Named one of the Top 10 Construction Achievements of the 20th Century, Hoover Dam continues to draw crowds more than 70 years after its creation

The Hoover Dam - weighing in at 6.6 million tons - is comprised of millions of pounds of materials. The more than five million barrels of cement, 45 millions pounds of reinforced steel, more than 94 million pounds of pipes at a length of 840 miles, and millions of other materials, the Hoover Dam is a marvel simply in coordination and construction. In the process of construction, 112 workers lost their lives in accidents and scorching summer temperatures that averaged 120F (49C).

One thrill not to be missed while visiting the Hoover Dam is driving across it. The dam is no longer open to through-traffic after a bypass bridge opened, but it is still possible to drive across it. The Highway 93 bypass bridge opened to alleviate the stress on the dam and the long lines of cars as drivers waited, sometimes patiently, to cross the top of the dam. The Hoover Dam's roadway is still in use, though, as cars are allowed to cross it to access scenic locations in Arizona; traffic must turn around and re-enter Nevada, since the other direction is closed.

Turning around and recrossing the Hoover Dam isn't such a bad option; the Hoover Dam tour entrance is on the Nevada side of the dam. A fantastic way to truly appreciate the dam and its inner workings is by not just exploring it outside, but also inside. A variety of Hoover Dam tours are offered and worth the price of admission, since seeing how the dam operates is a unique way to appreciate just how amazing of a marvel it is.

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When to Go to Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam Tours are offered throughout the year, but the best time to visit the Hoover Dam is in the fall or spring. The desert temperatures can be quite extreme in the summer, so it's best to avoid them. The tour may take you through the interior of the dam, but scorching temperatures may deter you from exploring the outside of the dam during the day.

Odds n' Ends

Make the drive to the Hoover Dam from nearby Las Vegas even more worthwhile with a stop at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. All kinds of water activities are possible on the lake, which the dam makes possible. So, gain a greater appreciation for the Hoover Dam by actually exploring the surrounding area for a couple of days. But just be sure to bring sunscreen for the hot desert sun!


Hoover Dam hours of operation: M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM; Closed 1 Jan, Easter Sunday, Mother's Day, Thanksgiving, 25 Dec.

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Books and DVDs

Colossus: Hoover Dam and the Making of the American Century
Life and Death at Hoover Dam
Top 10 Las Vegas
Moon Nevada

Elsewhere on the Web

Hoover Dam - Visitor Bureau

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