Off the beaten path in the USA – visit Hoover Dam

Why should you visit Hoover Dam? It is the engineering masterpiece of US history, no less famous than the Empire State Building in New York. Just that it’s not in the middle of the metropolis but somewhere in the middle of nowhere. The Black Canyon to be precise. And not so ‘nowhere’ at all, the famous Las Vegas is right around the corner (or some 40 minutes away).

Hoover Dam is a massive concrete structure, the dam of the Colorado River, protecting the wide area from the common floods and also providing energy to nearby towns. The dam was built in 1935, the main construction works lasted through the Great Depression. And since it was finalized when Franklin D. Roosevelt was the president, it’s named after the other president. There are a few controversial stories about that, but let’s leave them for next time.

Arriving to the area

Right on the border where Arizona meets Nevada, you drive towards the Black Canyon. As the Hoover Dam is a strategic object and well protected by the government, don’t be surprised that entering the area you will have o show your car to the police. They might investigate it more thoroughly, or less. But it’s worth spending few minutes there along the way to visiting Hoover Dam.

The impounded Colorado river is called Lake Mead. This has formatted an important recreational area for the region. The light-colored band of rock above the shoreline shows the decreased water level of the reservoir.

There are two important areas to visit when you are in the place. The Hoover Dam itself with the powerplant and main constructions, and also the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge o observe the dam from the best angle.

Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge

The bridge is quite new, built in 2010. The main purpose was to decrease the transport flood and redirect it from the Hoover Dam area. To reach the bridge, you will have to leave your car in the parking area and hike upwards a few hundred meters.

Although the bridge is a highway, it also has a pedestrian road, so you can literally walk between Nevada and Arizona back and forth. Of course, admiring the dam structure from every angle. And if my knowledge is up to date, it is the world’s tallest concrete arch bridge.

Visit Hoover Dam area

When I was visiting the Hoover Dam it was completely empty. Maybe because it was quite late in the evening and the visitor center and powerplant itself did not work anymore. But in this case, my visit was even more special. I explored every possible open corner of the dam. It’s free to visit the top of the Dam, and for me, it was enough to experience just that.

But what main places are there when you visit Hoover Dam?

Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and costs ¬$10 to explore. The facility’s Exhibit Gallery features various audio, visual and interactive exhibits. You can visit a small theater as well, it shows a 10-minute film about the dam. The top-floor observation area is great for snapping some memorable pictures of the massive structure, Lake Mead, and the Colorado River.

Winged Figures of the Republic.  Across the street from the Visitor Center, the bronze statues featuring a 142-foot-tall flagpole that sits between two winged figures. These monuments are surrounded by a floor with a celestial map noting the dam’s dedication date – Sept. 30, 1935. By the statues, you also can see the bronze seals of the seven states that are home to the Colorado River Basin.

The Powerplant. Located 530 feet below Black Canyon’s surface, this power plant is where you’ll find the dam’s 17 generators, plus a tunnel drilled in the 1930 and a platform that sits on top of a 30-foot-wide water pipe. The on-site tour includes a 30-minute stop inside the power plant. The cost to explore the powerplant is $15.

There are individual tours to visit Hoover Dam as well. More info:https://travelnevada.com/historical-interests/hoover-dam/

Also, visit: Visit The Grand Canyon – make the most of your visit