Now that's what I call a Dam.

Monday, 11th February
Art deco and all that jazz (1931 - 1935) 

'A modern civil engineering wonder of the United States' The Hoover Dam.(Built 1931 - 1935)

Eddie has been waiting for this trip for I don't know how long.  The Hoover Dam, originally named Boulder Dam,  and was built to control the Colorado River as it winds it way along a 1400 mile course from the Colorado's Rock Mountains.  Today it provides irrigations over one million acres, provides 20 million people  with domestic water and generates 4 billion kilowatt-hours a years to 1.3 million people.  The resulting Lake Mead provides sports and leisure facilities around its 550 mile shoreline. Enough of the mind blowing facts and figures.  This is an amazing engineering accomplishment and provided employment during the Great Depression.

From a tourist point of view it is certainly work a visit. Parking is a bit pricey ($7) and of course you have to pay $11 per person for the 30 minute trip into the bowels of the dam.  There is a more intensive tour behind the scenes available at a price.  It never occurred to us that we would need a full security check, which is obvious when you think about it. Now time for a photo of you and your group to buy later.  We then went down the lift 53 floors.  Panic! Being shut up in a lift with 65 people is not my idea of fun although the descent only takes a few second and not as claustrophobic as you may imagine. This takes you to the visitors platform where you can see the massive  pipe work that was put in originally to divert the Colorado River whilst the dam was constructed.

Turbine Hall

Mosaic in turbine hall.

 Back to the lift again and this time down into the HUGE turbine hall. You can get an idea of the size of the area from the people in the balcony in the photo.  I have to admit when it came to the engineering side of things I did switch off a little and my attention was drawn to the mosaic on the balcony.  Being built in the 1930, Art Deco was the order the day and the sharp, angular lines of this period are abundant in this building inside and out.  This particular design was based on an Paute Indian pattern. 

On top of the world

It's a long way down

Back to the lift again, 65 in 65 out and finally the chance to purchase that photo of you and your at the Hoover Dam, courtesy of the Green Screen.  And no we didn't purchase. Ridiculous price.  Move away and see the museum which includes some interactive displays before moving outside to the viewing platform for a closer view of the dam, the turbine hall, the wonky pylons, and the new road bridge.  The final ascent of 46 steps takes you outside so you can walk over the dam from Nevada State into Arizona State.

New road bridge arching the river

Helen is one hour older than Eddie.

 The Hoover Dam actually spans two states, Arizona and Nevada.  What we never expected was that the time line went literally down the middle of the dam meaning that there was a time difference of an our between the two states.  We weren't staying for long so seemed pointless to change our watches. There were other things to do.

Nevada time

Arizona time

Now that's what I call brass. Art Deco period lift door.

There are other points of interest at the Hoover Dam. A memorial to the 100 men who were killed during the building of the bridge and a strange presentation, I think its referred to as a dyorama.  It is a little dated possibly but give a good overview of the huge effect of the Colorado River and other dams that have been built.

After a light lunch at the cafe and a tour of the mega tacky gift shop (another magnet for the fridge) we headed home via Boulder City.  It's not a city but the town that accommodated the Hoover Dam workers and their families.   Today the old town looks like a quintessential all American town with some really interesting artwork which we just happened to need so Eddie could get his geocaching daily fix.  Even managed to find the Post Office and bought the stamps for the postcards.  Very friendly bunch round these parts.

Final cache and photographic opportunity of the day overlooking Lake Mead and home for a great pasta dinner.