Hoover Dam: One of the Most Amazing Engineering Feats Ever

Hoover Dam is one of America's most amazing engineering feats of the 20th century. The dam is over 700 feet tall, has enough concrete to build a road hundreds of miles long, and produces all the power of Boulder City, Nevada. Millions of people come from all over the country and the world every year to see the enormous attraction that was built over a five year period from 1931-1935. Several people died to create this magnificent dam. I have taken the tour two times so far and wouldn't mind doing it again. There is just so much to learn and appreciate when it comes to American history.

So what does Hoover Dam have to offer? There is an attractive visitor center which describes the history of the construction of the dam. The Visitor Center has attractive displays and theater where visitors can watch a short film on the making of the Hoover Dam. Visitors are able to take an impressive tour around and under the dam. Visitors will take an elevator several hundred feet down into the hard rock that the dam is built into. People get to wear hard hats and go into the facilities under the dam. You can view the control room, see the water intake towers. Visitors are able to walk through tunnels inside the concrete structure of the dam to see the original inspection markings from decades ago.

After the underground tour is over, visitors walk the sidewalks that wind around the top of the dam. From here, you can see the amazing mountain scenery, the beautiful crystal blue waters of Lake Mead, the Colorado River, the water intake towers, and the bridge that is currently being created to allow a direct flow of traffic from Arizona into Boulder City and then to Las Vegas.

Also at the dam is a restaurant and gift shop with various merchandise related to the dam. There are also some awe inspiring memorials at the site. One memorial is the grave site of a dog that contributed to the workings at the dam.

Hoover Dam is just ten minutes from Boulder City, Nevada and a half hour from Las Vegas. Tours of the dam are given from 9:30a.m. to 3:30p.m. and the cost per person is $30. Children under 8 are not allowed on the tour. There is also an option to just take a tour of the power plant. This tour costs $11 per person. Learn about a piece of American history that will be around for generations to come. Oh yes, be sure to bring sunscreen, a lot of water, and of course a camera. You'll have an opportunity to take the most amazing pictures of your life and you can show them off to your friends and family.