Hoover Dam
A wall of concrete 221 meters high, holding back the largest reservoir in the United States.
Photo: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hoover Dam guide: tours, the bypass bridge viewpoint, Lake Mead, the Art Deco details, time zones and how to visit on a day trip from Las Vegas.
In the 1930s, thousands of workers built Hoover Dam in the burning heat of Black Canyon, on the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona. Completed in 1936, ahead of schedule, it stands 221 meters high and created Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the country by capacity. It still produces electricity for millions of people.
The dam is also a work of art. Art Deco towers, terrazzo floors and the bronze Winged Figures of the Republic make it one of the most elegant engineering projects of its time. Tours lead into the power plant and the tunnels deep inside.
For the best view of the dam, walk out onto the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, which spans the canyon 270 meters above the river. Hoover Dam is an easy half-day trip from Las Vegas, about 50 kilometers away.
Don’t miss
- 1The view from the Memorial Bridge
- 2The power plant tour
- 3The Winged Figures of the Republic
- 4Standing with one foot in Nevada and one in Arizona
Insider tips
- Vehicles pass a security checkpoint; allow extra time.
- Tour tickets are sold at the visitor center, first come, first served.
- Combine the visit with Lake Mead or Boulder City.
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