Hoover Dam Historic Photos
Updated by AZ Leisure Staff Writers on
These historic Hoover Dam photographs document the enormous construction effort that transformed Black Canyon during the 1930s. The collection shows heavy equipment, intake towers, concrete construction, workers and families, spillways, the powerplant and the completed dam with Lake Mead rising behind it. Together, the images provide a visual record of one of America's most significant engineering projects, built on the Colorado River between Arizona and Nevada from 1931 through 1936.
- Hoover Dam Construction Photos
- Workers & Construction Life
- Completed Hoover Dam & Lake Mead
- Powerplant & Generators
- What The Photos Document
- Construction Timeline
- Historic Photos FAQ
Hoover Dam Construction Photos
Hoover Dam Workers & Construction Life
Completed Hoover Dam & Lake Mead
Hoover Dam Powerplant & Generators
Historic photographs courtesy of the Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum.
What These Hoover Dam Photos Document
The photographs span several stages of the Hoover Dam story, from heavy construction in Black Canyon to the completed dam, Lake Mead, intake towers and powerplant. Before the dam itself could rise, crews built roads and other infrastructure and excavated four enormous diversion tunnels through the canyon walls so the Colorado River could be routed around the construction site.
As the project advanced, workers excavated the foundation, constructed the dam in interlocking concrete blocks, built intake towers and power facilities, and completed the enormous structure that now spans the Arizona-Nevada border. For a detailed explanation of the engineering work shown in these photographs, see Building Hoover Dam and Hoover Dam Diversion Tunnels.
Hoover Dam Construction Timeline
- March 1931: Six Companies was awarded the Hoover Dam construction contract
- April 20, 1931: The contractor received official notice to proceed
- May 1931: Excavation of the Colorado River diversion tunnels began
- 1933: Concrete placement in the dam began
- May 29, 1935: Concrete placement in the dam was completed
- March 1, 1936: All major project features were completed
Workers & Families Behind Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam was not built by machinery alone. About 21,000 men worked on the project over the course of construction, with an average workforce of roughly 3,500 and a peak of more than 5,200. Many workers brought wives and children to southern Nevada, making the story of Hoover Dam one of families and communities as well as engineering.
Learn more about the people behind the project in Who Built Hoover Dam? and see the dangerous work performed on the canyon walls in Hoover Dam High Scalers.
Hoover Dam Historic Photos FAQ
When were these Hoover Dam construction photos taken?
The construction photographs date primarily from the 1930s, when Hoover Dam was being built in Black Canyon on the Colorado River between Arizona and Nevada.
When was Hoover Dam built?
The main Hoover Dam construction project ran from 1931 through 1936. Concrete placement in the dam was completed in May 1935, and all major project features were completed by March 1936.
What do the historic Hoover Dam photos show?
The gallery includes construction equipment, intake towers, concrete work, Black Canyon construction areas, workers and families, spillways, Lake Mead, the dam face and the powerplant generator room.
How many people worked on Hoover Dam?
Approximately 21,000 men worked on the Hoover Dam project over the course of construction. The average workforce was about 3,500 and the peak workforce exceeded 5,200.
How was the Colorado River diverted while Hoover Dam was built?
Four large diversion tunnels were excavated through the walls of Black Canyon so the Colorado River could be routed around the dam construction site.
Where did these historic Hoover Dam photographs come from?
The historic photographs displayed in this gallery are credited to the Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum, an organization dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history of Hoover Dam and Boulder City.
Related Hoover Dam Interest
Hoover Dam
Building Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam Diversion Tunnels
Hoover Dam High Scalers
Hoover Dam Map
Hoover Dam Men
Hoover Dam Pictures
Along The Colorado River
Colorado River Lakes
Lake Powell
Lake Mead
Lake Mohave
Lake Havasu
