As a National historic landmark, visiting Hoover Dam is a must see if you are in the Nevada or Arizona area. The Dam itself is split between the two states, with the Nevada side of the dam having it’s own tower with the time zone, as well as the Hoover Dam visitor center. The Arizona side of the dam, also has a tower with Arizona’s time zone (they don’t recognize daylight saving time).
This post will provide you with everything you need to know for your visit to Hoover Dam. Now, I will preface this by saying that I have a lot of reservations about the dam. Namely from an environmental impact standpoint.
The area has been significantly altered from the building of this dam and due to the population explosion in Las Vegas, which Hoover Dam and Lake Mead supply hydroelectric power and water to, the water levels are becoming dangerously low.
I will let you decide your own feelings towards this historic landmark and honestly, engineering marvel, but wanted to provide my personal feelings up front.
History of Hoover Dam
In 1922, Arthur Davis Powell of the Bureau of Reclamation outlined a plan for the dam’s construction in Black Canyon located at the Nevada-Arizona border. The plan was for the dam to control flooding and irrigate crops in various states and they would sell hydroelectric power to recoup the costs.
Built during the Great Depression, Hoover Dam gave many construction workers a chance to work and many flocked to Las Vegas to try and get work before settling in Boulder City, which was a community built specifically for those building the dam. Many descendants of these builders still reside in Boulder City and take great pride in the dam.
On September 30, 1935, President Roosevelt commemorated the dam’s completion. In 1985, it became a National Historic Landmark, and in 1994 it was designated one of America’s Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders. Hoover dam now receives around 7 million annual visitors, while Lake Mead national recreation area sees around 10 million visitors annually.
Location
US Hwy 93 Boulder City, NV 89006
Entrance into the dam
In order to access Hoover dam you will need to drive through a security checkpoint. There has been concern in the past and particularly during 9-11 that there would be an attack on Hoover dam, not the dam itself but its power generators. Thankfully, this never happened but security does check and make sure things are ok before allowing you entrance.
Parking
The main parking lot is on the Arizona side with a lower lot and an upper lot and it is free parking. If you park in the lower lot, you get a great view of the dam and then you can take a set of stairs up to the upper parking lot for a different perspective.
Tickets
$15 for adults (purchased at a window on entrance on a first-come-first-serve basis
Hours of operation
Open daily from 5AM-9PM
Viewing areas
There are several places to get different perspectives and great views of Hoover Dam. The top of the dam has plenty of little observation deck pullouts and viewing platforms on both sides of the dam. Honestly, you can get some amazing photos just from the parking lot but the top of Hoover Dam gives you a great view of that iconic curve of concrete.
The other viewing point is on the Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, which overlooks the dam and is part of the main highway.
Self-guided tour
The main features of a self-guided tour are the views of the dam but I would recommend walking over to the Nevada side and checking out the winged figures of the republic and you can also do a self-guided visitor center tour.
Hoover Dam Tour
If you want more from your trip you can do a guided tour for $30. There are options to visit the construction tunnels and the various areas within the dam, this isn’t something you get on a self-guided tour.
Other logistics
This is a great day trip, you can spend a couple hours and see everything. Depending on the time of day and year, it can get extremely hot. In the middle of summer it can be around 110-120 degrees Fahrenheit. So, bring plenty of water and try to avoid the hottest part of the day.
Concluding thoughts
Hoover Dam is the most-visited dam in the United States and its concrete structure truly is an impressive feat of engineering. But there is also some really beautiful nature around it. The canyon itself shows off its natural beauty, even with the scarily low water levels.
Visiting Hoover Dam is a great stop along a 2-day Antelope Canyon Grand Canyon tour and a must visit at least once in your life if you are in the area.
