Things to do nearHoover Dam

Hoover Dam was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression, a period when the federal government mobilized tens of thousands of workers to tame the Colorado River and bring reliable water and electricity to the arid American Southwest. At the time of its completion it was the tallest dam in the world, and it remains one of the most celebrated feats of civil engineering in United States history. The structure is a curved gravity arch dam built from more than three million cubic yards of concrete, and its art deco detailing, including the stylized intake towers and the terrazzo floors of the visitor center, reflect the design sensibility of the era in which it was built.

Visitors today can explore the crest walkway for free, moving between Nevada and Arizona as they take in views of the canyon below and the reservoir above. Guided tours descend into the dam's interior, where the original turbines continue generating hydroelectric power distributed across Nevada, Arizona, and California. Lake Mead, the reservoir created by Hoover Dam, is the largest reservoir in the United States by volume when full and supports boating, fishing, and swimming through the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

The surrounding landscape is raw Mojave Desert, all ochre rock and open sky, which makes the presence of the dam feel all the more improbable and impressive. Hoover Dam rewards the curious traveler who wants to understand not just what it looks like but how it works and what it cost to build, making it one of the most substantive day trips available from Las Vegas.