Hoover Dam ( aka Boulder Dam )- A Historic Marvel:

When it comes to engineering marvels, Hoover Dam is the best place to see. Still standing since its creation in 1935, the dam continues to operate until now, with one main difference: it is now, since 1985, a National Historic Landmark and a popular tourist attraction. Because of its popularity, a lot of people swarm to the dam in summer and spring, especially during the weekends. To avoid crowds, make your visit from January to February. The best time to visit is at around 10 in the morning or 3 in the afternoon.

Also referred to as the Boulder Dam, Hoover Dam can be found at the Colorado River. It is just 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, which will take you about 45 minutes when you travel by car. It can be reached by taking Highway 93 South to Boulder City, which is 20 miles away. The Hoover Dam itself is 7 miles from Boulder City. The dam can be easily found as it lies on the border of Nevada and Arizona.

In Hoover Dam, your top activity is sightseeing. You can do this on your own or join the guided tours. There are two guided tours available, the Powerplant Tour and the Hoover Dam Tour. The Visitor Center also has a restaurant and a gift shop where you can shop for souvenirs.

The Powerplant Tour is a very popular touring option for visitors because it can be set at the visitors’ desired pace. Throughout the tour, you will see a lot of theater displays such as photos, maps, and other memorabilia, and you will also watch a 10-minute film titled “How the West was Won”. After the film, you will experience a thrilling and a bit spine-chilling elevator ride going down 530 feet. Your next stop after that is the Powerplant itself, with the Penstock Viewing atop a 30-foot diameter pipe, Powerplant Generators, and Inspection Galleries, before going all the way to the Exhibit Gallery and the Observation Deck, where you can see the Colorado River, Lake Mead, and the dam itself. You will definitely be clicking away on your camera at this point of the tour. You will also get to see the displays at street level such as the Winged Figures of the Republic, Nevada Spillway, The Nevada Intake Towers, and a lot more. The tour will end with a breathtaking walk on top of the Hoover Dam. If you don’t know much about the dam but is interested to learn more, you shouldn’t miss the Dam Tour. This tour is similar to the Powerplant Tour in many aspects, but is the longer tour of the two and takes visitors into a more in-depth look at the national landmark.

Here are some general information that will come in handy during your vacation trip to Hoover Dam.

Opening hours: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, tickets available until 4:15 PM

Tour schedules: Summer-1^st tour at 9:15 AM, last at 5:15 PM; Winter-1^st tour at 9:15 AM, last at 4:15 PM

Phone numbers: (702) 494-2517/fax at (702) 494-2587/(866) 730-9097 (toll-free)

Entrance fees: Powerplant Tour $11, $9 discounted price for children, seniors, and military; Hoover Dam Tour $25; Visitor Center only $8; prepare $7 parking fee