Hoover Dam

By: Mikela Ouimette

Historical Site, Past and Present
Before the Hoover dam was built, that entire area was a
wasteland. It was considered to be a harsh barren land.
The dam was built to control the damage caused by the
flooding of the Colorado River when melted snow from
the Rocky Mountains joined the River.

About 40 miles from Las Vegas,, the area now holds a

massive concrete dam, standing 726 feet in height. At
its base, the dam is 660 feet thick. The area around the
Hoover dam includes Lake Mead, which is America’s first
and largest national recreation area.
Historical Context of the Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam was built to tame the
Colorado River between 1931 and 1936,
during the time of The Great Depression. In
hopes of finding work, many people came to
Black Canyon. A town was built a few miles
away from the dam, named Boulder City, to
house the laborers who were working on
the dam. The city was run by the
government for another 30 years.
Throughout the five years of building,
21,000 men worked on the project.
Historical Importance of the Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam was
the largest dam in the
world when it was
completed. The dam
was designated a
National Historic
Landmark in 1985
and one of America’s
Seven Modern Civil
Engineering Wonders
in 1994.
Economic Importance of the Hoover Dam
The Hoover dam generates enough
hydroelectric power to serve over 1.3
million people each year. The damn also
stores water that will be used to irrigate 2
million acres of land across southern
California and Arizona. This water stores
also provide municipal water for many cities
including Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Tucson.
The Hoover dam hold back floodwaters and
provide water during times of drought. The
Hoover dam is also given credit in the
development of the Southwest deserts.
Why Should We Care About the Hoover Dam
We should care about the Hoover Dam
because of the importance it had and
still has today. In the past, the Hoover
Dam provided many jobs during the
Great Depression, and led to the
growth of the Southwest deserts. The
dam provided water storage and flood
prevention in the area. Today, the
Hoover Dam provides hydroelectric
power, irrigation, and water storage for
many areas throughout Nevada,
Arizona, and Southern California.
Sources:
Bureau of Reclamation, and Lower Colorado Region Web Team. “HOOVER DAM.” Historical Information,
www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/history/storymain.html.

“Nevada and Arizona: Hoover Dam (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior,
www.nps.gov/articles/nevada-and-arizona-hoover-dam.htm.

“Lake Mead National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior,
www.nps.gov/lake/index.htm.

“The Diversity of the Hoover Dam.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior,
www.nps.gov/lake/learn/news/the-diversity-of-the-hoover-dam.htm.

“Building of Hoover Dam Begins.” History.com, A&E Television Networks,

www.history.com/.amp/this-day-in-history/building-of-hoover-dam-begins.

“Hoover Dam.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/.amp/topics/great-depression/hoover-dam.

Could not include an interview with a park ranger due to the COVID-19 shutdown