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Hoover Dam Tour
Touring the Hoover Dam is a must-do for first time visitors to Las Vegas. The
Hoover Dam is only a short drive away from Las Vegas. Alternatively,
shuttle services, to and from the dam, are offered by most of the
casinos in town. A day trip to the Hoover Dam makes for a nice break
from the casinos. Nearly 3,000 people visit the Hoover Dam daily.
And why wouldn’t they? If it weren’t for the Hoover
Dam (originally called the Boulder Dam) there wouldn’t be
a Las Vegas.
Prior to the completion of the Hoover Dam the surrounding areas
were prone to devastating droughts for which there was no relief.
When it did rain the surrounding areas flooded. The federal government
set out to reclaim the southwest by controlling the Colorado River.
The building of the Hoover Dam was a monumental undertaking. Over
5,000 workers were brought in and construction began in 1931. Much
to the credit of the laborers, the Hoover Dam, with its 660-foot
thick curved base, was completed in 1936, 2 years ahead of schedule
and $15 million under budget. Today the Hoover Dam powers much of
Arizona, California, and Nevada. Surprisingly, Las Vegas receives
its electricity elsewhere.
 When
you first arrive, you’re sure to be overwhelmed by the Dam’s
almost frightening size. It’s mesmerizing to walk across the
Dam’s crest. The Hoover Dam towers 726-feet above bedrock
and even today is engineering masterpiece. Take your time exploring
the site and enjoy the many superb views. When you are ready, make
your way down to the reception area. There you can purchase tickets
for the tour. Tours run every 15 minutes or so and last about 30
minutes. The tour starts off with a brief but interesting presentation
is a small theatre. Afterwards, the real fun begins. Groups of 30
are crammed into an elevator and taken into the Dam’s interior.
While there you’ll have to walk through a cave like passageway
to get to the engine room. Take notice to the water seepage along
the walls, but don’t be alarmed, the Dam didn’t spring
a leak. Seepage is apparently normal. Post 9/11 security measures
do prevent tours from full entering into the engine room. Afterwards,
you can browse the exhibits throughout the Plaza Level or catch
an astonishing view from the Visitor Center’s rooftop overlook.
And of course there is a souvenir shop and a restaurant on site.
The Dam Burger isn’t too bad.
Overall visiting the Hoover Dam is fun, entertaining, and informative
experience that shouldn’t be missed.
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