After leaving the Valley of Fire
and running across the desert tundra of North Shores Lake
Mead Recreational Area, we'll be getting close to our final destination
at Hoover Dam (unless we opt to run the tour backwards because of
enormous construction traffic in the afternoon). We'll hit a nice place
for photos and try peeking over the Dam.
What is Hoover Dam? Hoover History:
Hoover Dam, originally known as Boulder Dam, is a concrete arch-gravity
dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the
U.S. states of Arizona and Nevada. When completed in 1936, it was both
the world's largest electric-power generating station and the world's
largest concrete structure. It was surpassed in both these respects by
the Grand Coulee Dam in 1945. It is currently the world's 35th-largest
hydroelectric generating station.
This dam, is named after Herbert Hoover, who played an instrumental role
in its construction, first as the Secretary of Commerce and then later
as the President of the United States. Construction began in 1931 and
was completed in 1936, more than two years ahead of schedule. The dam
and the power plant are operated by the Bureau of Reclamation of the
U.S. Department of the Interior. Listed on the National Register of
Historic Places in 1981, Hoover Dam was designated a National Historic
Landmark in 1985.
Lake Mead is the reservoir created behind the dam, named after Elwood
Mead, who oversaw the construction of the dam.
During the concrete-pouring and curing portion of construction, it was
necessary to circulate refrigerated water through tubes in the concrete.
This was to remove the heat generated by the chemical reactions that
solidify the concrete, since the setting and curing of the concrete
was calculated to take about 125 years if cooling was not done. Six
Companies, Inc., did much of this work, but it discovered that such a
large refrigeration project was beyond its expertise. Hence, the Union
Carbide Corporation was contracted to assist with the refrigeration
needs.
While working in the tunnels, many workers suffered from the
carbon monoxide generated by the machinery there. The contractors
claimed that the sickness was pneumonia and was not their
responsibility. Some of the workers sickened and died because of the
so-called "pneumonia". Most are uncounted on the official death list.
There were 112 deaths associated with the construction of the dam.
There are different accounts as to how many people died while working on
the dam and who was the first and last to die. A popular story holds
that the first person to die in the construction of Hoover Dam was J. G.
Tierney, a surveyor who drowned while looking for an ideal spot for the
dam. Coincidentally, his son, Patrick W. Tierney, was the last man to
die working on the dam, 13 years to the day later. Ninety-six of the
deaths occurred during construction at the site. However, another
surveyor died prior to construction, while surveying a potential
location for the dam, and these statistics do not include other
incidental and coincidental (heat stroke, heart failure, etc) deaths
during construction
The Discovery Tour of Hoover Dam is where you experience the very pit of
Hoover's mighty belly, see how it was constructed, and the impact this Dam
has on the country. You can explore the shops,
purchase souvenirs and other trinkets, get a bite to eat at the
concession stands, watch a brief film about the history of the dam in a
theater or just browse across edge of the dam. There are lots of little places to see around the west
side of the Dam. We'll get most or our best photos from the east side,
where there is usually lots of free parking. If you are going on the
Discovery Tour (not included), two things can happen, 1.) You'll need to
let us know up front you want to do this, so we can part friends. 2.) From here we can escort you back o the
rental agency.
- Hoover Dam Visitors Center is open year round except for
Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- Tickets can be purchased online or at the Dam for the
Discovery Tour.
- We suggest waiting until you arrive to purchase tickets to see
how much time we have before the motorcycle is due back.
 There is
no standing in long tickets lines, there are always plenty of
opportunity to purchase tickets. Parking is usually an issue for
long term.
- The length of the Discovery Tour is about 45 minutes.
This Hoover Dam tour used to be .10, as a boy growing up in Las
Vegas. Almost funny...
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The new
Discovery Tour is also included with this admission price.
In addition to the Exhibit Hall you will have a lectured
presentation by professional guides and the access to the
Visitor's Center, the indoor and outdoor observation decks
and a trip to the generator room via one of the dam's
elevators.
NOTE: The Guided
Tour should NOT be taken by anyone who suffers from
claustrophobia or those with a pacemaker or defibrillators.
The tour will be in confined spaces and around generators
emitting electromagnetic frequencies.
Hoover Dam
Rules
Discounts: America the Beautiful,
Golden Eagle or Golden Age Passports/discounts are
NOT accepted for admission to the
Hoover Dam Visitor Center or tours. They can be used
for admission to parks and facilities that receive
benefits from the Land and Water Conservation Fund
(like Lake Mead National Recreation Area); however,
Hoover Dam is entirely self-funded and does not
receive the benefits from this Fund.
Traffic: Commercial trucks
(18-wheelers) are prohibited from crossing the dam,
and must use the Highway 95 detour through Laughlin,
Nevada/Bullhead City, Arizona. Most passenger
vehicles are allowed to cross the dam, but all are
subject to inspection at security checkpoints.
(Note: Contents of moving vans and enclosed campers
must be easily inspected.) Motorhomes and other high
clearance vehicles cannot park in the Parking Garage
and must use parking areas on the Arizona side of
the dam. For more information, see
"Crossing Hoover Dam: A Guide for Motorists"
(Acrobat .pdf file - 73 KB).
Double Take:
Hoover Dam
Stopping on top of the dam in any vehicle
is prohibited. YOU CANNOT STOP YOUR
MOTORCYCLE ALONG THE OUTER PATH OF TRAFFIC ON TOP OF
THE DAM WITHOUT TAKING THE CHANCE OF BEING FINED -
WE USUALLY
TAKE THE CHANCE!
Pedestrians are not allowed on the top of the
dam during hours of darkness.
Pets are not allowed anywhere on site.
Food, chewing gum, canned drinks and drinks
in cups are NOT allowed on the Dam or in the buildings.
Water bottles are permitted.
Hoover Dam Discover Tour:
What is the "Hoover Dam Discover Tour"? This is a
foot-tour with a guide down into the Dam showing you
it's internal structure and is only around $11. If
you have never done this, we highly recommend it.
Just leave the bike in one of the free parking areas
or park in the parking garage if they have any
parking available and get a ticket. The tour runs
all day long.
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Tour:
Valley of
Fire Tour / Hoover Dam
- On Going: Daily
- No Minimum Group Requirements
- Registration: Click Here
- Leaves Promptly: 5:30am (May - August) -
Summer Months
- Leaves Promptly: 6:30am (September)
- Leaves Promptly: 8:00am (Nov - April) -
Cooler Months
- Conclusion: Summer 12pm or so... Winter 2:30pm
or so...
- Roads: Paved
- Questions: Facts
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What's Included
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 Hoover
Dam
Seventh Wonder of the World
Who has not
heard of the legendary MIGHTY Hoover Dam. Seventh Wonder of the World of
engineering. For many years you've been able to drive across the Dam as a
throughway from either Arizona to Nevada, or from Nevada to Arizona.
Being able to drive across
Hoover without paying a fee, will not always be the case I am thinking
once the overhead freeway is completed. Millions and
millions drive across this Dam every year and over 1,000,000 people a
year frequent the tours. There is a marker on Hoover Dam where you can
stand with one foot on the
Arizona side and one foot on the Nevada side to visit both states at
once! A great place to advertise Levi's.
Below is some information that I've gathered over
the years and thought to share it with you, mostly photos from activity
around the Dam. Sadly, some of this you may not be aware of, or realize about the
recent trials of the great Hoover Dam. It isn't holding
much water up these days behind those mighty walls.
We've had 2 marina's located on Lake Mead close
recently but the fact is, it doesn't make Hoover Dam a bit less
interesting. It's still an amazing wonder of the world, truly a site to
behold that will keep you thinking for days to come.
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