When the construction of the Hoover Dam began in 1930, it became the largest, most expensive federally funded project in American history. 21,000 men toiled in sweltering heat for between $.50 and $1.25 a day to erect the 726-foot tall dam, the tallest in the world at that time. It took 4.3 million cubic yards of concrete to build the dam, power plant, and complementary components. The towering dam ranked as the world’s largest hydroelectric dam for 10 years from 1939 to 1949.
The scale is difficult to comprehend but Hoover Dam was a massive project. (customconcretecreations)
Even today, it supplies electricity to three separate states and generates roughly 4 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of hydroelectric power each year. Since its inception, the Hoover Dam experienced an identity crisis, a Nazi bombing plot, and conspiracy theories. Nevertheless, the dam keeps humming to this day. Here’s everything you needed to know about America’s most famous dam.
Creating the Hoover Dam ranked as one America's most ambitious projects.
A Long Time Coming
While the construction of the Hoover Dam did not become a reality until 1930, the idea was in the works for decades. In fact, its namesake, President Herbert Hoover, was actually the secretary of commerce in 1921 when the wheels really began moving. However, before the massive project could begin, water rights of the Colorado River needed sorting.
Hoover himself negotiated the compact that divided up what he called “the most extensive action ever taken by a group of states under the provisions of the Constitution permitting compacts between states.”
From conception to completion the Hoover Dam took over twenty years. (rarehistoricalphotos)
The Slow Wheels Of Progress
It took nearly a decade as the machinations of Congress and state legislatures considered the monumental undertaking. Ultimately, approval was given but, of course, that was only the beginning. To complete the project, housing had to be figured out for the 21,000 workers.
Initially, Las Vegas tried to throw their hat in the ring. They even temporarily shuttered the various speakeasies and other scurrilous behaviors when Secretary of the Interior Ray Lyman Wilbur made a visit to consider their bid. Apparently, Vegas couldn’t cover up their wicked ways well enough so an entire city, dubbed Boulder City, bloomed into existence out of thin air.
Massive ice machines were required to cool the massive amounts of concrete. Unfortunately, none went to the broiling workers.
Life As A Hoover Dam Worker
While an entire city sprung to life for the workforce, the actual work sounds akin to torture. The opening summer of construction saw a brutal heat wave of 119°F. Workers toiling in the deepest tunnels sweltered in temperatures that topped 130°F! Obviously, in those hellish conditions heat strokes came fast and furious. In total, a reported 138 workers died in five years of labor. However, despite endless conspiracy theories, no bodies are entombed in the giant concrete structure.
Native Americans who worked on the Hoover Dam as "high scalers," 1932. (Wikimediacommons)
Stars Of The Show
Many factions of the personnel deserve credit for the iconic dam but the headliners were undoubtedly the “high scalers.” A group of mostly Native Americans would rappel down the canyon to remove loose rock by hand. Apparently, these “high scalers” got their Cirque du Soleil on, swinging from their ropes like trapeze artists. One man, Louis Fagan, pulled off such outrageous stunts, he earned the nicknames, “The Human Pendulum” and “One-Rope Fagan.”
Although not to be outdone, another “high scaler,” Oliver Cowan, literally saved his boss’s life. Bureau of Reclamation engineer Burl R. Rutledge lost hold of his safety line and began falling toward certain death. Cowan, working about 20 feet under, made a life-saving grab worthy of a Mission Impossible movie.
High scalers thrilled workers and saved at least one life.
A Nazi Plot To Blow Up The Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam not only provided vital power to multiple states but also controlled the roaring Colorado River that seasonally flooded low-lying areas. The Nazis hoped to knock out the dam’s energy production, which, in turn, would knee-cap California’s aviation manufacturing. Wild plans surfaced such as building a decoy dam or enshrouding it, using a large smoke screen. Ultimately, none of them was necessary but the dam was closed off to the public after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The dam formed America's largest reservoir covering roughly 248 square miles and holding some 28.9 million acre-feet of water.
Hoover Dam Or Boulder Dam?
Initially, the project was called Boulder Canyon Dam Project. Obviously, a bit of a mouthful but since the initial site was Boulder Canyon and creativity was lacking, it stuck. Funnily enough, the name stuck even though they ended up moving the site to Black Canyon.
In 1930 to mark the official opening Wilbur took the opportunity to push his President Hoover name saying, “I have the honor and privilege of giving a name to this new structure. In Black Canyon, under the Boulder Canyon Project Act, it shall be called the Hoover Dam.” Unfortunately, few were with him. Hoover wasn’t invited or even mentioned during the dam’s dedication ceremony!
Six combined companies submitted the winning bid of $48.8 million, the largest contract awarded by the federal government at the time.
A Begrudging Acceptance
By that time Hoover had become President but not a popular one, thanks to the Great Depression. According to Michael Hiltzik, A Hoover Dam historian, both names were used “interchangeably, the preference often depending on the political leanings of the speaker.” Eventually, President Truman approved a congressional resolution and old Hoover went down in history.
