Hoover Dam is a testimony to a country’s ability to construct monolithic projects amid adverse conditions. Built during the Depression; thousands of men and their families came to Black Canyon to tame the Colorado River. Now, years later, Hoover Dam still stands as a world-renowned structure. The dam is a National Historic Landmark and has been rated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of America’s Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders.

This tour will be led by the Bureau of Reclamation. Established in 1902, the Bureau of Reclamation is best known for the dams, powerplants, and canals it constructed in the 17 western states. These water projects led to homesteading and promoted the economic development of the West. Today, Reclamation is the largest wholesaler of water in the country, bringing water to more than 31 million people. Reclamation is also the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States, annually providing more than 40 billion kilowatt hours generating nearly a billion dollars in power revenues and producing enough electricity to serve 3.5 million homes. Reclamation’s mission is to assist in meeting the increasing water demands of the West while protecting the environment and the public’s investment in these structures.