Boulder City

Boulder City was built by the federal government to house the thousands of workers who were building the Hoover Dam project in the 1930s. In order to keep these workers away from the temptations of Las Vegas, Boulder City was founded and gambling was made illegal. This quaint town remains the only community in Nevada were gaming is still illegal.

Management and maintenance crews of Hoover Dam are now the predominant residents of Boulder City. This unique town is a vibrant community, with a movie theater, numerous gift shops, parks and a historic hotel. Call the Boulder City Chamber of Commerce for more information 702.293.2034

Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam- is one of the seven man-made wonders of the world. The dam is 727 feet high (70 stories) and 660 feet thick. Construction of the dam required 4.4 million cubic yards of concrete (which is enough to build a two lane highway from San Francisco to New York). In 1928 Congress appropriated $165 million in funds to build the Boulder Dam project for two purposes: flood control and the generation of electricity. Originally called Boulder Dam, it was renamed for Herbert Hoover, Secretary of Commerce, during the critical planning stages of the project. Completed in 1935, this gravity dam holds back the mighty Colorado River and forms the largest man-made lake, Lake Mead. Hoover Dam is located 40 miles from Las Vegas on Highway 93. Tours are available and they leave every few minutes from the exhibit building at the top of the dam. Regular Tours daily from 8-5:15pm Call (702) 293-8367

Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Lake Mead is the largest man-made lake in the country. It is created by Hoover Dam holding back the waters of the Colorado River. Its surface covers 229 square miles and its irregular shoreline extends 550 miles. Lake Mead is located off of Highway 93. The National Park Service can give you details on the lake’s recreational activities and facilities. (702) 293-8990

Tags: 1935, Boulder City, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead