If you are in the vicinity of Las Vegas or the Grand Canyon, take a day to tour the Hoover Dam. It is located just off US Route 93 on the state line of Nevada and Arizona. The parking and entrance for the Dam Tours is located on the Nevada side, and each side has an exit from US Rt 93. From Arizona, there is a small parking area just off the dam, and yes you can still drive across the dam. From Nevada, there are a couple parking areas. There is a bridge access area to the new by-pass bridge named for the Mike O'Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. You can walk across the bridge and stop on the Arizona/Nevada sign for pictures.
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| Route 93 Bridge |
To enter both areas you must pass through a check point. Yes you have to stop for security, this was set up because of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. BTW this is also the reason that the by-pass bridge. Parking at the garage will set you back $10.00, but that is for all day. There is small cafe with fresh food, drinks and ice cream, a cute gift shop and some incredible views of the dam.
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| The Dam |
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| The Damn |
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| A climber/Rigger |
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| Pipe going up mountain |
Take the escalator to the main exhibit area, you will have to pass through a metal detector, so empty your pockets on the escalator. Water is the only beverage allowed inside, so drink quickly also. There are a couple tours to choose from: The Dam Tour - $30.00; and Powerplant Tour - $15.00; both tours include the $10.00 entrance fee for the visitor center. If you want a great experience take the big tour.
There are a couple great exhibit areas inside the visitor center,
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| Cross section of river bed |
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| Model of Building Dam |
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| Water Turbine |
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| Mural of dam construction |
along with a deck to get closer views of the dam.
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| The Bridge from deck |
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| The Powerplant from deck |
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| Water release valves from deck |
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| Powerplant from deck |
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| The Colorado from deck |
Once you start your tour, the first stop is the PowerPlant. This is so cool, it shows how the river was blocked off, diverted, then reopened flowing through the powerplant to create power to feed the entire southwest area of the United State.
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| How the powerplant works |
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| intake tube |
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| walkway |
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| the powerplant |
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| water turbines |
After this portion of the tour is over, those that just took the PP Tour return to the visitor center, those who took the Dam Tour get to go into the bowels of the dam. You even get to see the large staircase that runs the depth of the dam, look out a vent on the face of the dam, and ride an elevator to the top of the dam.
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| a grate in the floor of the dam |
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| a speedbump in the dam??? |
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| view of bridge from inside the dam |
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| walkway |
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| emergency staircase up version |
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| emergency staircase down version |
Watch out for the cracks, though, you will find writing that will explain when they were inspected and by whom.
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| Crack marking |
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| Crack marking |
After the tour, you are brought up to the top of the dam. Again the views are awesome. Take time to walk over to Arizona (during the winter you are actually in two different time zones).
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| me in Nevada while Darrell in Arizona took my picture |
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| the state line. I am standing on in. |
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| time in Arizona, it was only 3:30 in Nevada when I took this picture |
The ring around the lake represents the level the lake has dropped in the last few years.
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| Lake Mead. Calcium line shows drop in water level |
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| Lake Mead. Calcium line shows drop in water level |
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| Arizona Intake tube. |
There is a great model that shows the flow of the Colorado and how the Dams along the river have helped prevent serious flooding and created a divergent power system.
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| the model |
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| outside memorial area to those that died |
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| outside memorial area to those that died |
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| outside memorial area to those that died |
There is also a plaque for the Dam Mascot, who was unfortunately run over by a truck.
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| The mascot memorial |
This is a great place to bring children for a tour, or even for just curious adults. For more information check out the Bureau of Reclamation page on the Hoover Dam, it is full of all the tour information, direction on how to get there and some background information: http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/
I hope you enjoy your trip, I know I did. Until next time when I will dig into the Women's Rights National Historic Park located in Seneca Falls, NY, safe travels, enjoy life and get you bucket list checked off.
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