A historic account prepared in cooperation with the department of interior, bureau of reclamation colorado river published by k c publications, las vegas, nv, u. It was the highest dam in the world when it was completed in 1935. In july, flooding caused a dam under construction in laos to collapse, releasing an inland tsunami that drowned hundreds of people estimates of the number killed start at 200 and go up by multiples of that. As breathtaking today as when it was completed, hoover dam ranks among americas most aweinspiring, if dubious, achievements. It received the western writers of america spur award, the john h. Few know that hoover dam was originally named boulder dam. On this day in 1930, construction of the hoover dam begins. The grandeur of the hoover dam makes one speechless, as you look down at birds of prey hovering down below in the canyon. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Building hoover dam is the most intriguing book yet written about one of the modern architectural wonders of the world. Michael hiltziks history of hoover dam has an ambitious subtitle. Building the hoover dam, 19311936 rare historical photos. Hoover dam in this is what the famous hoover dam in nevada looked like before the water was added. Workers apply a coat of paint to one of the dam s spillways.
The hoover dam was one of the most ambitious building projects the world had ever seen. Colossus is not really a thesisdriven book, and not really about the american century. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the hoover dam. Thats because the initial planned site was at boulder canyon about 10 miles north upriver from where it. Hoover dam is a concrete archgravity dam in the black canyon of the colorado river, on the border between the u. From spanish missionaries to american entrepreneurs, the colorado had offered a challenge. Eventually renamed hoover dam in 1947, the dam was the. Nov 27, 2018 the last few years have been turbulent for the global dam industry.
Construction began in 1933 and was completed two years later. Recalling the hoover dams constructionand an era of daring american achievement. Construction history of hoover dam a brief overview of hoover dam construction hoover dam or boulder dam. Construction of the giant dam was a triumph of human ingenuity, yet the full story of this monumental endeavor has never been told. Information provided about the construction of the dam, how it works, and how to take a tour of the dam. At black canyon river adventures, our river raft tours offer a oneofakind view of hoover dam from below. Hoover dam and lake mead are located in the black canyon of the colorado. Located in black canyon on the colorado river about 30 miles southeast of las vegas, the hoover dam is a 700hundredfoottall, concrete archgravity dam and is a modern marvel of the world, begging to be explored by anyone in the region. At the time of its construction, hoover dam was mankinds most massive masonry structure since the great pyramids. Built during the great depression, the dam would tame the floodprone colorado river southeast of las vegas. Page 77 district, which may require or involve the employment of laborers or mechanics shall contain a provision that no laborer or mechanic doing any part of. The field office for the hoover dam and power plant construction is located at boulder city. The student activities may be used either alone or.
When it was originally built, the hoover dam was the largest concrete structure in the world. An overview of hoover dam construction history with links to hoover dam information and articles of facts and humaninterest insight. The old road along the crest is reserved for use by visitors to the dam. The federal highway administration even named hoover dam one of americas top 10 construction achievements of the 20 th century. Originally known as boulder dam from 1933, it was officially renamed hoover dam, for presid. Hiltzik does a fine job of using oral histories to let the construction. This day in history building of hoover dam begins 1930. Six companies accomplished a historic feat, working together to build the hoover dam. Jul 28, 2019 on this day in 1930, construction of the hoover dam begins. Hoover dam vip tour from las vegas las vegas hotels. Workers apply a coat of paint to one of the dams spillways. Although i am a civil engineer i find the book difficult to read.
Jf ptak science books quick post in the series the history of blank, empty and missing things at the beginning of it all, the titanic started out as a space in a dry dock, a line of horse carts, and. The history and construction of americas most famous. This book is a brief and concise which most charles rivers editors books are. Apr 26, 2012 hoover dam s successful construction and enduring ability to harness the colorado river are the result of the convergence of extraordinary men, machines, and methods.
The history and construction of americas most famous engineering project. September 2428, 1963 is an interior department film produced by the naval photographic center. Darwin colby, the last remaining worker from the hoover dam project identified by museum records, died last week, closing the book on a legacy written more than 80 years ago by thousands of men. See more ideas about hoover dam, history and hoover dam construction. An american adventure, was published by the university of oklahoma press in 1988. Hoover dam is americas most famous landmark, completed in 1935. In the decades preceding hoover dams construction, tremendous advancements were realized in every discipline of engineering. Over 700 feet tall, it has been standing here, on the nevadaarizona border, since 1935, having been completed just four short years after the award of.
Mar 6, 2020 hoover dam and woodward history from the woodward prime mover control january 1986 issue. The hoover dam at 75 when the hoover dam was finished in 1935, it was three times larger than any other dam on the planet. Colossus book by michael hiltzik official publisher. After a long boom, an uncertain future for big dam. Last known hoover dam construction worker has died las.
It was the most colossal structure in the world at that time. Bureau of reclamation decided the best solution for the arid southwest would be to dam the river and create a yearround water supply. An extremely well written tale of the inception and construction of hoover dam. Construction began in january 2005 on a longplanned hoover dam bypass project, and in october 2010 a concrete arch bridge with a 1,060foot 322metre spanthe longest in north america for that type of bridgeopened for through traffic within view of hoover dam.
Becuase the hoover dam allows a controlled flow of the colorado river, irrigation canals can divert water all year long satisfying the needs of an expanding agrarian industry. Turrentine jackson prize of the western history association. Its construction was the result of a massive effort involving thousands of workers, and cost over one hundred lives. Built across the glorious colorado river, the hoover dam is a marvel. The construction of hoover dam pdf ebook download free. Hoover dam, often called boulder dam, is located on the colorado river at the southern tip of nevada and the arizona border. Heres a rare photograph of the dam before it was flooded. Construction of hoover dam by department of the interior and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. In the early 1900s, after many failed efforts to control the lower colorado river with levees and irrigation canals, the u. Official bureau of reclamation web site for hoover dam. The books provide details of the many construction and management aspect of the dam. Sep 11, 2015 construction on the dam proceeded day and night. Luke s gabriel describes the history of the hoover dam, why and how it was built, and how it works.
Apr, 2016 when it was originally built, the hoover dam was the largest concrete structure in the world. Originally called boulder dam, the hoover dam straddles the border of arizona and nevada. This great american icon was to be the largest and heaviest dam, producing the largest amount of hydro electric power in the world. Dunning prize of the american historical association, and the w. Fourteen years later, a joint resolution of congress changed the name back to hoover dam. The student activities may be used either alone or in conjunction with a visit to hoover dam. Hoover dam and the making of the american century by. Past efforts at forcing the colorado under human will had met with varying degrees of success. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The construction of the hoover dam was the culmination of years of attempts to harness the power of the colorado river. Hoover dam build photos reveal the wonder of human invention. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 and today it provides power for various utilities in nevada, arizona, and california.
Hoover dam impounds lake mead, the largest reservoir in the united states by volume. Since its construction, tourism was taken into consideration at the dam and all visitor facilities were built with the best materials available at the time. Nov 05, 2009 originally called boulder dam, the hoover dam straddles the border of arizona and nevada. It includes learning activities to promote understanding of hoover dams impact on the environment, and its technical and historical significance for the united states. The boulder canyon project act authorized construction of a dam in. I got to visit the hoover dam, but unfortunately did not have the time to tour the facilities. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the hoover dam like never before, in no time at all. A historic account prepared in cooperation with the department of interior, bureau of reclamation by colorado river jan 1, 1976 paperback. However, due to security concerns after the september 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, concerns about vehicle traffic on the dam initiated the hoover dam bypass project completed in 2010.
The last few years have been turbulent for the global dam industry. Hoover dam construction history hoover dam information. Hoover dam hoover dam, dam, hoover dam construction. The book is an oddly slanted history, a bit turbid and containing long dry patches. It covers the political aspects, the big business aspects, and especially the human aspects of building the dam in a time frame that would be virtually impossible today. Essentially, this book provides everything and more the average reader would. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. After a long boom, an uncertain future for big dam projects. Thats because the initial planned site was at boulder canyon about 10 miles north upriver from where it is now located at black canyon.
Its base is as thick as two football fields are long. Hoover dam was an audacious and courageous undertaking. In his new book, colossus, journalist michael hiltzik follows the construction of the hoover dam, from initial political battles waged in. The story of the hoover dam book by ingersollrand company. Over the next five years, a total of 21,000 men would work ceaselessly to produce what would be the largest dam of its time, as well as. As breathtaking today as the day it was completed, hoover dam not only sh.
Hoover dams successful construction and enduring ability to harness the colorado river are the result of the convergence of extraordinary men, machines, and methods. Now, in an engrossing, fastpaced narrative, joseph e. The history and construction of americas most famous engineering project chronicles the construction of americas most famous dam. Hoover dam fulfilled the goal of disseminating the onewild colorado river through the parched southwest landscape, fueling the development of. Each spillway, designed to let floodwaters pass without harming the dam itself, can handle the volume of water that flows over niagara falls. One of the common questions that visitors have involves the power that the facility generates. Its size and construction still set it apart from nearly any other structure in the world. During the design of hoover dam, it was recognized that the tremendous weight of the dam and lake, more than 41,000,000,000 tons, might have a localized ffect on the e. The story of hoover dam is a collection of articles published at the time of the construction of the dam, each chapter is a different article, wrote at different time from the next one. Planning, design, and construction in the era of big dams hoover, glen canyon, bonneville, central valley project, fdr, muir, conservation, environmental impact. The history and construction of americas most famous engineering project kindle edition by charles river editors. Hoover dam is a large archgravity dam located on the border of the states of nevada and arizona on the colorado river in its black canyon.
This book made up for that quite well, though, and is an inspiring account of human ingenuitybeing both direct and succinct. Hoover dam in the black canyon of the colorado river, on the border between the states of nevada and arizona. Then in america today it is a national symbol of achievement of the idea of working hard and giving it your all the american way. An engaging oral history of the 31ers who built hoover dam and the women who fed them, married them, and shared their lives. This book made up for that quite well, though, and is an inspiring account of. Hoover dam design, construction and facts civil engineering. The hoover dam vip tour certainly walks you thru the history of its intricate construction and complex design achievements. Shasta dam is the second largest dam in america, and this book covers the construction during the years 19381945. Over the next five years, a total of 21,000 men would work ceaselessly to produce what would be the largest dam of its time, as well as one of the largest manmade structures in the world. Credit books or scrip are supplied to its employees which are re. Listeners will learn about the engineering challenges that needed to be overcome and of the personal stories of some of the thousands of men and women who built the dam. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Hoover dam is the highest and 3rd largest concrete dam in the us, built and owned by the bureau of reclamation. In the decades preceding hoover dam s construction, tremendous advancements were realized in every discipline of engineering.