Boulder City, United States2 hoursMorning
Hoover Dam
Ideal: Ideal for history, engineering, views, road trips, and exploring around Las Vegas.
Built in the middle of the Great Depression from 1931 to 1936, it finished two years ahead of schedule; ninety-six workers died on site. The 6.6 million tons of concrete would have taken more than a century to cool if poured as one block, so the dam was cast in interlocking sections cooled with pipes carrying ice water. Lake Mead behind it is America's largest reservoir by volume; the pale 'bathtub ring' along the shore shows how far water has dropped in recent drought years.
Quick facts
- Built
- 1931
- Opened
- 1936
- Architect
- Gordon Kaufmann
- Architectural style
- Art Deco architecture
- Height
- 221 m
- Length
- 379 m
Facts from Wikidata, photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Why go?
- To see one of America's most important engineering landmarks
- To experience the Colorado River and dam scenery
- Because it makes a strong day trip from Las Vegas
Travel tip
Combine Hoover Dam with Lake Mead or Grand Canyon West for a fuller day.
