There’s no denying the sheer genius behind the idea and construction of Nevada’s famous Hoover Dam. Today, it stands as one of the most impressive engineering marvels in the world! Nevadans are fortunate to have such an attraction in their own backyard. More than simply a photo opportunity, the Hoover Dam was born from necessity, ingenuity, and hard work. Let’s dive into the fascinating history of this incredible dam and how it came to be.

Hoover Dam was named after President Herbert Hoover in 1947. However, the idea for a dam over the Colorado River goes as far back as 1922, when the Bureau of Reclamation, along with locals and farmers, created a plan. Their idea was a way to control the flow of the river while utilizing its incredible power, too.

The Colorado River was both a blessing and a curse before the construction of the Hoover Dam. Water levels were often inconsistent, and flooding was a common occurrence, providing grievances for agricultural farming.

Meanwhile, an increase in the number of small towns and settlements equated to a growing need for more electricity. What did engineers decide? Harness the river’s hydroelectric power.

The project was a massive joint effort. In order to get the plan approved, the Bureau of Reclamation needed the okay from seven states along the river to obtain water rights.

Propelled by the Great Depression, scores of jobseekers and their families settled in the area. At first, folks lived mainly in dangerous encampments called “Ragtown” where life was difficult.

In order to help create better living conditions for the workers, the government created Boulder City in Nevada.

Boulder City has steadily grown and flourished. It makes a great trip destination today!

Getting to work! Before the construction of the dam could officially begin, the daunting task of rerouting the Colorado River needed to be executed. How did engineers manage to do this? They blasted the sides of the canyon. It was grueling and dangerous work, but the river was successfully rerouted in the fall of 1932.

All that dynamite left behind tons of loose rock that needed to be cleaned up before proceeding. Acrobats, specialists, and workers unafraid of heights scaled the cliffs on little more than ropes to remove the rocks. They used more dynamite and jackhammers to complete this dangerous and enormous task.

In total, the back-breaking work of 21,000 laborers and more than 5 years of dedication went into completing the Hoover Dam. Unfortunately, due to the high-risk and often unsafe conditions, more than one hundred individuals perished during the construction.

Natural Colorado River ecosystems and even small communities were, unfortunately, destroyed or disrupted in the building process.

Next came concrete, and lots of it. About 6.6 million tons, to be exact, went into building the Hoover Dam. Enough to pave a road from San Francisco to New York! The concrete was poured into layers to help speed up the hardening process. The end result was a dam with a staggering height of 726 feet tall and 1,244 feet wide.

The dam was completed in 1935, two years ahead of schedule thanks to the diligence of the engineers and construction workers. Upon completion, it was the tallest manmade structure in the world!

Subsequently, Lake Mead formed at the bottom of the dam and became the largest reservoir of water in the United States!

The dam itself contains one of the largest hydroelectric installations to date, powered by 17 turbines and providing enough power to serve more than 1.3 million people.

It’s easy to understand the fascination and awe inspired by the Hoover Dam. For generations, the dam has been a beacon of engineering prowess and our capabilities to not only bring water to a region but to provide ample power as well.

The reach of our capabilities is quite astounding. See the Hoover Dam for yourself! Plan a trip and get up close to learn about the dam’s incredible history and its impact even today. Learn more about visiting (and touring!) the Hoover Dam. And, if you're looking to explore the region, you can find a place to stay near the Hoover Dam.

Looking for related content? Check out this stunning footage of Lake Mead: