Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Visited: March 2014

Nearby city: Las Vegas, NV

“The beaver told the rabbit as they stared at the Hoover Dam: No, I didn’t build it myself, but it’s based on an idea of mine.”

-Nobel-prize winning physicist Charles H. Townes

The most valuable resource in the American Southwest is...water. This inhospitable desert really started to develop and grow in the early 20th century. Lawmakers and engineers realized that the Colorado River would need to be harnessed in order to support the ever-growing population and agricultural economy. A bold idea was born, they would build a dam. With the towering canyon walls, oppressive heat, and barren desert, such an endeavor seemed impossible.

The project became known as Hoover Dam. The massive and impressive dam was dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 30, 1935. Construction took about 5 years to complete. The dam created Lake Mead, named after Elwood Mead, the Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The dam itself being named after former President Herbert Hoover (1929-1933). Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the country by volume (when the lake is full). 

The lake and surrounding area is preserved as Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and is a popular spot for boating, fishing, and other outdoor activities for folks living in the Vegas area. 

The hallmark of this NPS unit is the Hoover Dam* (the dam itself is not managed by the NPS). The dam is one of the greatest architectural wonders of the world. At the time of completion, it was the largest concrete structure on earth. It stands over 726 ft tall, is 1,244 ft long, and is 660 ft wide at its base. A total of 3,250,000 cubic yards of concrete was used to construct the massive dam. It’s a very impressive sight, and is well worth a visit.

These views of the dam are from the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, an architectural wonder in its own right. The bridge is relatively new (completed in 2010) and carries traffic 890 ft above the Colorado River along U.S. Highway 93 (before the bridge was completed, the highway went along the top of the dam itself...made for a slow drive).

The dam spans the boundary between Nevada and Arizona. If you want you can just get views of the dam from the bridge, but I would recommend heading down to the parking garage on the Nevada side, and either walking along the dam or doing a tour. The Visitor’s Center also has lots of info and exhibits. I love the iconic penstock towers.

The project was not without sacrifice. 112 workers died while constructing the dam.

The high water mark is very visible. Due to the sustained drought the past 30 or so years and the high demand of water in the Vegas area, Lake Mead is not kept anywhere near its full capacity.

I really liked the Art Deco style of this statue.

 

Statue dedicated to the workers who labored on the dam.

If you have time, take the scenic drive through the National Recreation Area along Lake Mead. Nearby Valley of Fire State Park is also a great place to stop and hike. But, at the very least, stop by Hoover Dam if you’re in the Vegas area. More info here: https://www.nps.gov/lake/index.htm