Being this was my first time to Nevada, forgot that we would get to see the Hoover Dam on our trip as well. I was very excited to learn that I would get to see it. However that excitement turned to frustration and impatience when we learned we would be in traffic for over an hour just to get to the Hoover Dam. There is a lot of construction going on since they are building a bridge that goes over the Dam and the speed limit is 30 all the way through the dam. I was actually very surprised at how slow the traffic was.

By the time we got to the dam it was dark and we were hesitant to stop for too long not knowing how long it would take to get all the way out. We did stop at the first point and took a few pictures. After getting backing the car the traffic seemed to move much quicker and more steadily. Once again though we were hesitant to stop anymore, which meant passing by the popular view looking down into the dam. Of course at first I did not realize that we passed it and by then there was nowhere to stop and pull over. So we kept on going.


The sight in the dark was nice but I think it would have been better in the day, which it was when we first got into traffic. Also we would have been able to stop and see more of it. Hopefully next time we will be able to enjoy it more and spend more time looking around. I do think it is a must if you are going through there and have the time to stop.

This was a great day! I booked a trip to Hoover Dam thinking it would be a nice distraction from all the craziness of Vegas but to my surprise it turned out to be the best thing I did in Vegas. I went with Comedy on Deck Tours because they have comedians as tour guides and why not have a little fun if you can?

Our tour guide, Joni Maclain, was so funny, I'm not kidding I think she should have her own TV show. We laughed all the way to the Dam and once we got there she took us on a guided walk over the top and peppered her talk with historical jokes about the dam as well.

All of us were amazed at the information on the dam. It is said that 96 people died during the construction but they were just the official deaths, in reality many more died but the company that built the dam didn't want to pay death benefits, so only counted 96. I was so impressed with the volume of concrete, the fact that it had no rebar (something I understand since my dad's a mason) in it and the height. I was also struck by how sever the drought is getting, the water line was unbelievable showing the water to be down over 100 feet.

Inside the dam we got to view the generators and walk into one of the tunnels (56' in diameter) built to take the water around the construction site so they would have a dry riverbed. I found walking through the tunnels 500' feet into the canyon to be nearly as interesting as viewing the generators. Talk about information, there was so much I couldn't possibly take it all in. I even learned more when we made a stop at the Boulder/Hoover Dam Museum; it was upstairs in the supposedly haunted Boulder Dam Hotel in Boulder City. I had an excellent lunch at the hotel ( I recommend the chicken Parmesan sandwich) and to top the whole day off we learned all about Las Vegas history on the trip back to town. I couldn't imagine a better time visiting Hoover Dam or in Vegas for that matter. This was better then the shows I saw.

We made the relatively short road trip from the Las Vegas Strip to the Hoover Dam at the Nevada-Arizona border on a sunny, warm, summer day. We arrived mid-afternoon and elected for the "Hard Hat" tour for $25. It was preferable for us because you got to see more of the inner-workings of the dam and received a souvenir hard hat to take home with you.

The tour was quite long and well worth the entrance fee. Our knowledgeable tour guide left no question unanswered as he lead us up, down and all around the Dam, constantly reminding us to have a swig of water so as not to dehydrate. He was also patient, letting us stop and take pictures.

Viewing the almost 730 vertical feet of concrete was awe-inspiring. Just thinking of the work force it took to create this man-made wonder was mind-boggling - especially since it was constructed during the Great Depression era.

Our guide assured us that contrary to popular myth, there were no bodies buried in the structure, although there were deaths attributed to the construction. In addition to that, he had a wealth of statistics for us ranging from volumes of materials used, dimensions, timeframes, etc. It was a true spectacle of human ingenuity. Especially next to the majestic natural beauty of the Colorado River.

We took pictures at every turn of the renowned art deco architecture of the site as well as the cliff faces, river and the Dam itself. However, you'll find later that it's hard to capture a unique photograph of the site. When comparing photos later at home, my friend and I quickly saw that we had all the same shots.

Crossing over the Nevada-Arizona border by foot at the top of the Dam, it was fun to think that with one step you were in a different time zone.

Sadly, I'm told that they no longer offer the "Hard Hat" tour due to potential security risks since 9/11. However, I'm sure that the new, less expensive, less extensive tour is still worth the trip to the Hoover Dam. The Dam is open for tours from about 9am to 6pm.

The Hoover or Boulder Dam is a marvel of modern ingenuity. The massiveness of the dam and the construction of it is a testament to the will and dedication of America and the men and women that made the whole thing possible.

The dam is fairly incredible, to be completely honest. The dam was constructed from 1931 until 1935 and was completed before schedule. The total cost was $49 million at that time, and the construction took 96 workers' lives. The dam provides power to three states, California, Arizona, and Nevada. The dam impounds the Colorado River and is 726 foot high and 1,244 foot long. The 158,000 acre lake that was created on the north side of the dam was named Lake Mead after Elwood Mead who was the construction overseer of the project. The dam also has the Arizona and Nevada state line running through the middle of it, which is pretty neat. To hear about or read about the actual construction of the dam is what really makes it amazing though.

To say that the dam is a spectacle would be an understatement. When I first saw it, I came from the Arizona side where you are considerably higher than the dam and lake. Looking down, it appeared small when I first saw it. However, once we got onto the dam itself and then stopped and walked around the area, the vastness of the project was astounding.

If you plan to go, be prepared to be amazed. There are tours of the dam and area as well as many volunteers to assist you with questions if you do things on your own. There are also souvenir stands inside the main office and there is a restaurant, too, I believe. We spent about an hour there walking around and saw most of the external structure.

I would highly recommend the Hoover Dam to anyone who is traveling to Las Vegas. The trip can be made in less than half a day and you will truly see a modern marvel if you take the time to do so.

We made the 40-minute drive from Las Vegas to the Hoover Dam and parked in their visitor center for $7. The Discovery tour is $11 per person, with discounts for children, seniors, and military. The tour begins with a short movie containing historical footage, then you're loaded onto the elevators (about 30-40 people packed in, so if you don't like crowded elevators, this may not be for you). Then you descend 500 feet (170 meters) into the depths of the dam, to view the generator room and water transfer tunnels. The terrazzo floor is 3 inches (8cm) thick, and decorated with Native American symbols for power. The tour guides are interesting and knowledgeable. Finally, the tour brings you back to the surface and the interpretive center. You are then free to explore other parts of the Hoover Dam experience, such as the memorial to those who died during construction, the plaza with winged statues and model of the night sky on dedication day, or the top of the dam itself. The entire experience was a treat, and unexpectedly well worth the effort. One of the truly cool places we've been.