November 19, 2022
HOOVER DAM & LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
Nevada
“Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the U.S. states of Nevada and Arizona. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.” - Wikipedia
“Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a U.S. national recreation area in southeastern Nevada and northwestern Arizona.” - Wikipedi
What can I say about Hoover Dam? It is truly an engineering marvel, even by today’s standards. I visited the dam and took the guided tour about 20 years ago, so when I decided to return, I was undecided about whether to take the tour again. That decision was taken out of my hands because an elevator problem had all tours cancelled. Even so, the video and slide presentation in the Visitor Center, along with the museum exhibits reminded me of just how remarkable the construction of this project was.
When my vehicle had to be inspected before entering the area, then having to go through metal detectors before going into the Visitor Center, had me wondering why all the security was necessary, but when you hear about how many people would be affected if something would happen to prevent the dam from producing the power it does, it all made sense.
New since my last visit was the Highway bridge that now crosses the canyon south of the dam. A marvel in itself, it was worth the walk up to the bridge to get a different perspective of the dam.
Driving back to Vegas I took time to drive into the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. I’m glad I had my 4x4 truck as I decided to drive down the rough “road” to the lake shore. It was a good day to be sailing out on the lake.
The dam as seen from the Mike O'Callaghan/Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.
A view of the Mike O'Callaghan/Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge from the dam.
A museum exhibit showing how the concrete was poured.
A model of what construction of the dam would have looked like.
A bust of the dam's namesake, Herbert Hoover. Before becoming president, Hoover brokered the negotiations to get the dam built.
The trail to the Mike O'Callaghan/Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. The climb wasn't as bad as it looks.
The Mike O'Callaghan/Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.
While I was on the bridge a sports car club crossed the dam and was on their way out of the park.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area Visitor Center.
A relief map in the Visitor Center showing Lake Mead.
Lake Mead
