Jump to content

Hoover Dam: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
[pending revision][pending revision]
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
ClueBot (talk | contribs)
1,596,818 edits
Reverting possible vandalism by Special:Contributions/Emuman423 to version by 79.67.205.244. False positive? report it. Thanks, User:ClueBot. (117195) (Bot)
dam
Line 1: Line 1:
crapppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuufrat headdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
{{For|the dam near Westerville, Ohio|Hoover Dam (Ohio)}}
{{Infobox_Dam
|dam_name= Hoover Dam
|image= Hoover dam from air.jpg
|caption= Hoover Dam from the air
|official_name= Hoover Dam
|crosses= [[Colorado River]]
|reservoir= [[Lake Mead]]
|locale=[[Nevada]]-[[Arizona]], [[USA]]
|maint= [[U.S. Bureau of Reclamation]]
|length= 1244 ft (379 m)
|height= 726.4 ft (221 m)
|width=
|began= 1931
|open= 1936
|closed=
|bridge_carries=
|bridge_width=
|bridge_clearance=
|bridge_traffic=
|bridge_toll=
|bridge_id=
|map_cue=
|map_image=
|map_text=
|map_width=
|coordinates= {{coord|36|0|56|N|114|44|16|W|display=inline,title}}
|lat=
|long=
|extra=
}}

{{Infobox_nrhp | name =Hoover Dam
| nrhp_type =nhl
| image = Adams Boulder Dam 1942.jpg
| caption = Hoover Dam by [[Ansel Adams]]
| nearest_city= [[Boulder City, Nevada]]
| locmapin = Arizona
| area =
| built =1933
| architect= Six Companies,Inc.
| architecture= Art Deco
| designated= [[August 20]], [[1985]]<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1836&ResourceType=Structure
|title=Hoover Dam |accessdate=2007-09-27|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
| added = [[April 08]], [[1981]]<ref name="nris">{{cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
| governing_body = BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
| mpsub=Vehicular Bridges in Arizona MPS (AD)
| refnum=81000382
}}

'''Hoover Dam''', also known as '''Boulder Dam''', is a [[concrete]] [[Dam#Gravity dams|gravity-arch]] [[dam]] in the [[Black Canyon of the Colorado|Black Canyon]] of the [[Colorado River (U.S.)|Colorado River]], on the [[border]] between the [[United States|U.S.]] [[U.S. states|states]] of [[Arizona]] and [[Nevada]]. The dam, located 30 miles (48 km) southeast of [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]], is named after [[Herbert Hoover]], who played an instrumental role in its construction, first as [[U.S. Secretary of Commerce|Secretary of Commerce]] and then later as [[President of the United States]]. Construction began in 1931 and was completed in 1935, more than two years ahead of schedule. The dam and the power plant are operated by the [[Bureau of Reclamation]] of the [[U.S. Department of the Interior]]. Listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1981, Hoover Dam was designated a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1985.<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nrhpinv">{{cite web|url={{PDFlink|[http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/81000382.pdf "Hoover Dam (aka Boulder Dam until 1947)", May 31, 1985, by Joan Middleton and Laura Feller (Includes informative drawing of how the dam works)]|854&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 874940 bytes -->}}|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination|date=1985-05-31|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref><ref name="nrhpphotos">{{cite web|url={{PDFlink|[http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Photos/81000382.pdf Hoover Dam (aka Boulder Dam until 1947)--Accompanying 4 photos, from 1967 and 1997.]|846&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 867177 bytes -->}}|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination|date=1985-05-31|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
[[Lake Mead]] is the reservoir created behind the dam, named after [[Elwood Mead]], who oversaw the construction of the dam.

== Planning and agreements ==
A commission was formed in 1922 with a representative from each of the Basin states and one from the Federal Government. The federal representative was [[Herbert Hoover]], then Secretary of Commerce under President [[Warren Harding]]. In January 1922, Hoover met with the state governors of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming to work out an equitable arrangement for apportioning the waters of the Colorado River for their states' use. The resulting [[Colorado River Compact]], signed on [[November 24]], [[1922]], split the river basin into upper and lower halves with the states within each region deciding how the water would be divided. This agreement, known as the Hoover Compromise, paved the way for the Boulder Dam Project. It was built to help keep the silt and sediment out of the Colorado River.

[[Image:Herbert Hoover.jpg|thumb|left|[[Herbert Hoover]]]]

The first attempt to gain Congressional approval for construction of Boulder Dam came in 1922 with the introduction of two bills in the House of Representatives and the Senate. The bills were introduced by Congressman [[Phil Swing|Phil D. Swing]] and Senator [[Hiram W. Johnson]] and were known as the Swing-Johnson bills. The bills failed to come up for a vote and were subsequently reintroduced several times. In December 1928, both the House and the Senate finally approved the bill and sent it to the President for approval. On [[December 21]], [[1928]], President [[Calvin Coolidge]] signed the bill approving the
'''Boulder Canyon Project'''. The initial appropriation for construction was made in July 1930, by which time [[Herbert Hoover]] had become President.

Early plans called for the dam to be built in Boulder Canyon, so the project was known as the Boulder Canyon Project. The dam site was eventually moved downstream eight miles to Black Canyon, but the project name remained the same.

=== Contractors ===
The contract to make the Boulder dam was awarded to [[Six Companies|Six Companies, Inc.]] on [[March 11]], [[1931]],<ref>Construction of Hoover Dam: a historic account prepared in cooperation with the Department of the Interior. KC Publications. 1976. ISBN 0-916122-51-4.</ref> a joint venture of Morrison-Knudsen Company of [[Boise, Idaho]]; [[Utah Construction Company]] of [[Ogden, Utah]]; Pacific Bridge Company of [[Portland, Oregon]]; [[Henry J. Kaiser]] & W. A. [[Bechtel Corporation|Bechtel Company]] of [[Oakland, California]]; MacDonald & Kahn Ltd. of [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]]; and the [[J.F. Shea Company]] of Portland, Oregon. The chief executive of [[Six Companies]], [[Frank Crowe]], had invented many of the techniques used to build the dam.

During the concrete-pouring and curing portion of construction, it was necessary to circulate refrigerated water through tubes in the concrete. This was to remove the heat generated by the chemical reactions that solidify the concrete, since the setting and curing of the concrete was calculated to take about 125 years. Six Companies, Inc., did much of this work, but it discovered that such a large refrigeration project was beyond its expertise. Hence, the [[Union Carbide Corporation]] was contracted to assist with the refrigeration needs.

Six Companies, Inc. was contracted to build a new town called [[Boulder City, Nevada|Boulder City]] for workers, but the construction schedule for the dam was accelerated in order to create more jobs in response to the onset of the [[Great Depression]], and the town was not ready when the first dam workers arrived at the site in early 1931. During the first summer of construction, workers and their families were housed in temporary camps like Ragtown while work on the town progressed. Discontent with Ragtown and dangerous working conditions at the dam site led to a strike on [[August 8]], [[1931]]. Six Companies responded by sending in strike-breakers with guns and clubs, and the strike was soon quelled. But the discontent prompted the authorities to speed up the construction of Boulder City, and by the spring of 1932 Ragtown had been deserted.<ref>
[http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/programme_archive/seven_wonders_hoover_dam_05.shtml BBC History: ''The Building of the Hoover Dam, fighting for Progress'']
</ref> Gambling, drinking and prostitution were not permitted in Boulder City during construction. To this day Boulder City is the only location in Nevada not to allow gambling, and the sale of alcohol was illegal until 1969.

While working in the tunnels, many workers suffered from the [[carbon monoxide]] generated by the machinery there. The contractors claimed that the sickness was [[pneumonia]] and was not their responsibility. Some of the workers sickened and died because of the so-called "pneumonia". Most are uncounted on the official death list. In a court case, one of the claimants (Ed Kraus) said that the poisoning had resulted in his [[Erectile dysfunction|impotence]]. This was disproved after a prostitute in the pay of the contractors gave evidence. The jury failed to reach a verdict as a result, and the claim was lost.{{Failed verification|date=September 2007}}<ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379142/
| title = Seven Wonders of the Industrial World
| work = Internet Movie Database
| year = 2003
| accessdate = 2006-07-02}}</ref>

==Construction==
=== Groundworks ===
[[Image:Hoover-dam-contour-map.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Hoover Dam Architectural Plans]]
[[Image:Hoover-summary-map.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Overview Of Dam Mechanisms]]
To protect the construction site from flooding, two [[Cofferdam#Cofferdams|cofferdams]] were constructed. Construction of the upper cofferdam began in September 1932, even though the river had not yet been diverted. A temporary horseshoe-shaped dike protected the cofferdam on the Nevada side of the river. After the Arizona tunnels were completed, and the river diverted, the work was completed much faster. Once the coffer dams were in place and the construction site dewatered, excavation for the dam foundation began. For the dam to rest on solid rock, it was necessary to remove all loose material until solid rock was reached. Work on the foundation excavations was completed in June 1933. During excavations for the foundation, approximately 1,500,000 yd³ (1,150,000 m³) of material was removed, including material removed in canyon wall stripping operations.

=== River diversion ===

To divert the river's flow around the construction site, four diversion tunnels were driven through the canyon walls, two on the Nevada side and two on the Arizona side. These tunnels were 56 feet (17.07 m) in diameter. Their combined length was nearly 16,000 feet (4877 m, more than three miles). Tunneling began at the lower portals of the Nevada tunnels in May 1931. Shortly after, work began on two similar tunnels in the Arizona canyon wall. In March 1932, work began on lining the tunnels with concrete. First the base or invert was poured. [[Gantry crane]]s, running on rails through the entire length of each tunnel were used to place the [[concrete]]. The sidewalls were poured next. Movable sections of steel forms were used for the sidewalls. Finally, using pneumatic guns, the overheads were filled in. The concrete lining is 3 feet (914.4 mm) thick, reducing the finished tunnel diameter to 50 ft (15.24 m).

Following the completion of the dam the entrances to the two outer diversion tunnels were sealed at the opening and half way through the tunnels with large concrete plugs. The downstream half of the tunnels following the inner plugs, are now the main body of the spillway tunnels. The spillways can be seen directly above the outer diversion tunnels. They drop sharply from their entrance point and merge directly into the old diversion tunnels.

[[Image:Hoover-dam-intake-leake-mead.JPG|thumb|250px|Two intake towers on the [[Arizona]] side.]]
The two inner diversion tunnels have two concrete plugs in them. One is roughly half way along their length, and the other is around 75% of the way along their length. The section sandwiched between two concrete plugs is used as part of the tunnel which water travels along, to journey from the outermost intake towers and the generators. The two innermost intake towers have separate tunnels.

The large spillway tunnels have only been used twice in the history of the dam; the first was during the second half of 1941 for testing. The second was for about six weeks during the summer of 1983, when record precipitation and snow-melt in the Colorado River basin drained into Lake Mead.

=== Rock clearance ===

Before construction began on the dam itself it was necessary to remove loose rock from the canyon walls. The men who removed this rock were called "high-scalers." While suspended from the top of the canyon with ropes high-scalers climbed down the canyon walls and removed the loose rock with [[jackhammers]] and [[dynamite]].

=== Concrete pouring ===

The first concrete was placed into the dam on [[June 6]], [[1933]]. Since no structure of the magnitude of the Hoover Dam had been constructed, many of the procedures used in construction of the dam were untried. Since concrete heats up and contracts as it cures un-even cooling and contraction of the concrete posed a serious problem. The Bureau of Reclamation engineers calculated that if the dam were built in a single continuous pour, the concrete would have taken 125 years to cool to ambient temperature. The resulting stresses would have caused the dam to crack and crumble.<ref>
{{cite book
| last = Stevens
| first = Joseph E.
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = Hoover Dam: An American Adventure (Paperback)
| publisher = [[University of Oklahoma Press]]
| date= September 1990
| pages = 193-194
| location =
| url =
| doi =
| id = ISBN 0-8061-2283-8 }}
</ref> To solve this problem the dam was built in a series of interlocking trapezoidal columns. Each pour was no more than 6-inches deep. Because of this depth it is extremely unlikely that construction workers were accidentally buried alive in the concrete, contrary to popular folklore.<ref name=blf1>{{cite web |url= http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/History/essays/fatal.html |title= Fatalities at Hoover Dam |accessdate=2007-11-27}}</ref>. To further cool the concrete each form contained cooling coils of 1 inch (25.4 mm) thin-walled steel pipe. River water was circulated through these pipes to help dissipate the heat from the curing concrete. After this, chilled water from a refrigeration plant on the lower cofferdam was circulated through the coils to further cool the concrete. After each layer had sufficiently cooled the cooling coils were cut off and pressure grouted by [[pneumatic]] [[grout]] guns. The concrete is still curing and gaining in strength as time goes on.<ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://technology.calumet.purdue.edu/cnt/rbennet/concrete%20lab.htm
| title = Concrete Testing
| accessdate = 2006-09-23 }}
</ref>

There is enough concrete in the dam to pave a two-lane highway from [[San Francisco]] to [[New York]] <ref> Lower Colorado Bureau of Reclamation: Hoover Dam, Facts and Figures. [http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/pao/brochures/faq.html#concrete]</ref>.

=== Power plant ===
[[Image:Hoover Dam generators.jpg|thumb|The hydroelectric generators at Hoover dam]]

The seventeen [[turbine]]-generators at this powerhouse generate a maximum of 2,074 [[megawatt]]s of hydroelectric power.

Excavation for the powerhouse was carried out simultaneously with the excavation for the dam foundation and abutments. Excavation for the U-shaped structure located at the downstream toe of the dam was completed in late 1933 with the first concrete placed in November 1933.

Generators at the Dam's ''Hoover Powerplant'' began transmission of [[electricity]] from the Colorado River to [[Los Angeles, California]] 266 miles (428 km) away on [[October 26]], [[1936]]. Additional generating units were added through 1961.

Water flowing from Lake Mead through the gradually-narrowing penstocks to the powerhouse reaches a speed of about 85 miles per hour (137 km/h) by the time it reaches the turbines. The entire flow of the Colorado River passes through the turbines. The spillways are rarely utilized.

[[Hydroelectric]] power plants have the ability to vary the amount of power generated, depending on the demand. [[Steam turbine]] power plants are not as easily "throttled" because of the amount of thermodynamic inertia contained in their systems.

=== Architectural style ===
[[Image:DamTimeZones.jpg|thumb|300px|The dam crosses the border between two time zones, the [[Pacific Time Zone]] and the [[Mountain Time Zone]]]]

The initial plans for the finished [[facade]] of both the dam and the power plant consisted of a simple, unadorned wall of concrete topped with a [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]]-inspired balustrade and a powerhouse that looked like little more than an industrial warehouse. This initial design was criticized by many as being too plain and unremarkable for a project of such immense scale, so [[Los Angeles]]-based architect [[Gordon Kaufmann|Gordon B. Kaufmann]] was brought in to redesign the exteriors. Kaufmann greatly streamlined the buildings, and applied an elegant [[Art Deco]] style to the entire project, with sculptured turrets rising seamlessly from the dam face and clock faces on the intake towers set for Nevada and Arizona time, in the [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]] and [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain]] time zones respectively (although because Arizona does not observe [[daylight saving time]], the two clocks show the same time throughout much of the year).
=== Construction deaths ===
There were 112 deaths associated with the construction of the dam.<ref name=blf1/><ref name=blm1>{{cite web |url= http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/dams/hoover_fatalities_table.htm |title= Fatalities During Construction of Hoover Dam |accessdate=2007-06-11}}</ref>
The first person to die in the construction of Hoover Dam was J. G. Tierney, a surveyor who drowned while looking for an ideal spot for the dam. Coincidentally, his son, Patrick W. Tierney, was the last man to die working on the dam, 13 years to the day later.<ref name=blf1/><ref name=blm1/>
Only 96 of the deaths occurred during construction at the site.<ref name=blf1/>

== Use for road transport ==
[[Image:U.S. Highway 93 on Hoover Dam.jpeg|thumb|250px|right|U.S. Highway 93 on Hoover Dam]]
Hoover Dam serves as a crossing for [[U.S. Route 93]]. The two lane section of road approaching the dam is narrow, has several dangerous turns, and is subject to [[landslide|rock slides]].

Additionally, In the wake of the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks]] there are significant security concerns. Because of the attack the [[Hoover Dam Bypass]] project was expedited. The [[Hoover Dam Bypass]] scheduled to be completed in 2010 will divert US 93 traffic 1,500 feet downstream of the dam.<ref>Hoover Dam Bypass Project, [http://www.hooverdambypass.org/schedule.htm ''Schedule'']. Retrieved 1/25/07.</ref> The bypass will include a composite [[steel]] and [[concrete]] [[arch bridge]], tentatively named the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.

Traffic across Hoover Dam is now restricted. Some types of vehicles are inspected prior to crossing the dam while [[semi-trailer truck]]s, [[bus]]es carrying luggage, and enclosed-box trucks over 40 feet are not allowed on the bridge at all.<ref>[[Bureau of Reclamation]], [http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/crossingguide.pdf ''Crossing Hoover Dam: A Guide for Motorists'']. Retrieved 1/1/07.</ref> This traffic is diverted south to a Colorado River crossing near [[Laughlin, Nevada]].

== Power distribution ==
[[Image:2006-08-17 - United States - Nevada - Hoover Dam - Angel.jpg|thumb|right|One of two "Winged Figures of the Republic" by Oskar J.W. Hansen, part of the monument of dedication on the Nevada side of the dam.<ref>http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/History/essays/artwork.html</ref>]]

The [[Bureau of Reclamation]] reports that the energy generated is allocated as follows:<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bbcshop.com/invt/av9050&bklist=%3Cvenda_bklist1%3E | title = Bureau of Reclamations | work = Hoover Dam FAQ | year = Jan 30, 2006 | accessdate = 2006-08-26}}
</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Area!!Percentage
|-
|Arizona||align="right" |18.9527
|-
|Nevada||align="right" | 23.3706
|-
|Metropolitan Water District of Southern California ||align="right" | 28.5393
|-
|Burbank, CA ||align="right" | 0.5876
|-
|Glendale, CA ||align="right" | 1.5874
|-
|Pasadena, CA || align="right" |1.3629
|-
|Los Angeles, CA ||align="right" | 15.4229
|-
|Southern California Edison Co. ||align="right" | 5.5377
|-
|Azusa, CA ||align="right" | 0.1104
|-
|Anaheim, CA ||align="right" | 1.1487
|-
|Banning, CA || align="right" |0.0442
|-
|Colton, CA || align="right" |0.0884
|-
|Riverside, CA || align="right" |0.8615
|-
|Vernon, CA || align="right" |0.6185
|-
|Boulder City, NV ||align="right" | 1.7672
|}

== Statistics ==

[[Image:Roadtrip 05 bg 041506.jpg|thumb|Downstream from Hoover Dam, showing the river, power stations, and power lines.]]

[[Image:Hoover aerial.png|thumb|right|Aerial shot of Lake Mead and Hoover Dam showing the high-water mark of the 1983 flood season along the shore]]

*Construction period: [[April 20]], [[1931]] &ndash; [[March 1]], [[1936]]
*Construction cost: $49 million ($676 million adjusted for [[inflation]])
*Deaths attributed to construction: 112, 96 at construction site<ref name=blf1/><ref name=blm1/><ref>Pete Sigmund, [http://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/story.asp?story=7772&headline=Hoover%20Dam:%20A%20Symbol%20of%20Simple%20Strength ''Hoover Dam: A Symbol of Simple Strength''], 11/13/2006. Retrieved 1/1/07.</ref>
*Dam height: 726.4 ft ([[1 E+2 m|221.4]] [[metre|m]]), second highest dam in the United States. (Only the [[Oroville Dam]] is taller)
*Dam length: 1244 ft ([[1 E+2 m|379.2]] [[metre|m]])
*Dam thickness: 660 ft (200 m) at its base; 45 ft (15 m) thick at its crest.
*[[Concrete]]: 4.36 million [[cubic yard|yd³]] ([[1 E+6 m³|3.33 million]] [[cubic metre|m³]])
*Electric Power produced by the [[water turbine]]s: 2,080 megawatts
*Traffic across the dam: 13,000 to 16,000 people each day, according to the [[Federal Highway Administration]]
*[[Lake Mead]] (full pool)<ref>{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = http://www.usbr.gov/
| coauthors =
| title = Bureau of Reclamation
| work = Lake Mead statistics FAQ
| publisher = [[U.S. Department of the Interior]]
| url = http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/faqs/lakefaqs.html
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 2006-08-27 }}
</ref>
**area: 157,900 acres (639 km²), backing up 110 miles (177 km) behind the dam.
**volume: 28,537,000 acre feet (35.200 km³) at an elevation of 1,221.4 feet (372.3 m) .
*With 8 to 10 million visitors each year, including visitors to Hoover Dam but not all traffic across the dam, the [[Lake Mead National Recreation Area]] is the fifth busiest [[U.S. National Park|U.S. national park]].

== The naming controversy ==

{{Unreferencedsection|date=November 2007}}

The dam, originally planned for a location in Boulder Canyon, was relocated to Black Canyon for better impoundment, but was still known as the '''Boulder Dam''' project. Work on the project started on [[July 7]], [[1930]]. At the official beginning of the project on [[September 17]], [[1930]], President Hoover's [[United States Secretary of the Interior|Secretary of the Interior]] [[Ray L. Wilbur]], announced that the new dam on the Colorado River would be named Hoover Dam to honor the then President of the United States. Wilbur followed a long-standing tradition of naming important dams after the President who was in office when they were constructed, such as [[Wilson Dam (Alabama)|Wilson Dam]] and [[Coolidge Dam]]. Furthermore, Hoover was already campaigning for re-election in the face of the Depression and sought credit for creating jobs. A Congressional Act of [[February 14]], [[1931]], made the name "Hoover Dam" official.

In 1932, Hoover lost [[United States presidential election, 1932|his bid for reelection]] to [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]]. In his memoirs, Hoover writes of stopping to inspect progress on the dam, by night, on November 12, 1932 on his way back to Washington from Palo Alto after his defeat. He commented, "It does give me extraordinary pleasure to see the great dream I have so long held taking form in actual reality of stone and cement. It is now ten years since I became chariman of the Colorado River Commission.... This dam is the greatest engineering work of its character ever attempted by the hand of man." He went on to list its purposes, concluding, "I hope to be present at its final completion as a bystander. Even so I shall feel a special personal satisfaction." (Hoover adds a footnote to this, see below.) <ref>{{cite book
| last = Hoover
| first = Herbert
| title = The Memoirs of Herbert Hoover: The Cabinet and the Presidency 1920-1933
| edition = First
| date = 1952
| publisher = Macmillan
| location = [[New York]]
| id = ISBN (unknown)
| pages = pp. 229
}}</ref>

When Roosevelt took office on [[March 4]], [[1933]], he brought [[Harold L. Ickes|Harold Ickes]] with him to replace Ray Lyman Wilbur as Secretary of the Interior. Ickes wasted no time removing Hoover’s name from the Boulder Canyon Project. On [[May 8]], [[1933]], Ickes issued a memorandum to the Bureau of Reclamation, which was in charge of the dam, stating, "I have your reference to the text for the pamphlet descriptive of the Boulder Canyon Project for use at the Century of Progress Exposition. I would be glad if you will refer to the dam as 'Boulder Dam' in this pamphlet as well as in correspondence and other references to the dam as you may have occasion to make in the future."

This did not happen immediately, but over the following several years all references to "Hoover" Dam in official sources, as well as tourist and other promotional materials, vanished in favor of "Boulder" Dam.

Roosevelt died in 1945 and Harold Ickes retired in 1946. On [[March 4]], [[1947]] California Congressman Jack Anderson submitted House Resolution 140 to "restore" the name Hoover Dam. Anderson’s resolution passed the House on [[March 6]]; a companion resolution passed the Senate on [[April 23]], and on [[April 30]], [[1947]], President [[Harry S. Truman]] signed Public Law 43 which read: "Resolved … that the name of Hoover Dam is hereby restored to the dam on the Colorado River in Black Canyon constructed under the authority of the Boulder Canyon Project Act … . Any law, regulation, document, or record of the United States in which such dam is designated or referred to under the name of Boulder Dam shall be held to refer to such dam under and by the name of Hoover Dam."

Hoover writes this footnote to his comments of November 12, 1932: "Responding to a suggestion from Hiram Johnson, and with his characteristic attitude, Secretary Ickes changed the name of the dam. The hint in the above address that I should like to be present did not secure me an invitation to the dedication ceremonies conducted by President Roosevelt. I have never regarded the name as important. The important thing is a gigantic engineering accomplishment that will bring happiness to millions of people. In 1947, the Congress, by practically unanimous action, restored the name Hoover Dam -- to Mr. Ickes intense indignation. <ref>{{cite book
| last = Hoover
| first = Herbert
| title = The Memoirs of Herbert Hoover: The Cabinet and the Presidency 1920-1933
| edition = First
| date = 1952
| publisher = Macmillan
| location = [[New York]]
| id = ISBN (unknown)
| pages = pp. 229
}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
*In ''[[Superman]]'', the Hoover Dam is shown bursting open, caused by a man-made [[earthquake]].
* In the 2007 film ''[[Transformers (film)|Transformers]]'', the Hoover Dam was built to hide the radiant energy from a primordial cube.
* The band [[Sugar (band)|Sugar]] have a song ''Hoover Dam'' from their [[Copper Blue]] album.
* In the [[Rockstar Games]] title [[GTA: San Andreas]] a large dam looking almost exactly like the Hoover Dam can be found between [[San Fierro]] and [[Las Venturas]].
*In the movie Fools Rush In, Salma Hayek's character Isabel goes into labour on the dam in front of her baby's father (Matthew Perry) after she told him she miscarried the baby.

==References==
<!-- To add a reference simply enclose the text you want to appear here inside a <ref></ref> pair in the correct place in the body of the article. Use one of the cite templates to correctly format the information. -->
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commonscat|Hoover Dam}}
*[http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/ Hoover Dam's official website]
*[http://travelnevada.com Official State of Nevada Tourism Site]
*[http://xroads.virginia.edu/~1930s/DISPLAY/hoover/front2.html Hoover Dam: Lonely Lands Made Fruitful]
*[http://www.constructioncompany.com/historic-construction-projects/hoover-dam Historic Construction Company Project - Hoover Dam]
* {{Structurae|id=s0000136|title=Hoover Dam}}
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/programme_archive/seven_wonders_hoover_dam_01.shtml BBC - Hoover Dam, industrial and social history]
*[http://www.sunsetcities.com/hoover-dam.html Hoover Dam page]
*[http://www.citlink.net/~davegun/hdIX.html Dams of the Lower Colorado River - Hoover Dam]
*[http://www.1st100.com/part1/crowe.html Frank Crowe - Builder of Hoover Dam]
*"Boulder Dam" &ndash; [http://www.archive.org/details/BoulderD1931 Part I] and [http://www.archive.org/details/BoulderD1931_2 Parts III and IV], documentary films from the [[Prelinger Archives]] at the [[Internet Archive]].
*[http://digital.library.unlv.edu/cgi-bin/viewer.exe?CISOROOT=/lv_water&CISOPTR=343&CISORESTMP=&CISOVIEWTMP=&CISOMODE=grid Construction of diversion tunnel #4 and spillway tunnel which drops sharply to enter diversion tunnel]
*[http://www.library.unlv.edu/water/index.html Las Vegas and Water in the West] The planning and construction of Hoover Dam is the central focus of this digital library. UNLV Special Collections houses the largest collection of primary materials relating to Hoover Dam.
*[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/hoover/ PBS American experience - Hoover Dam]

{{Registered Historic Places}}
{{Colorado River system}}
{{Nevada State Historic Places/Clark}}

[[Category:American architecture]]
[[Category:Art Deco]]
[[Category:Colorado River]]
[[Category:Dams in Arizona]]
[[Category:Dams in Nevada]]
[[Category:Hydroelectric power plants in Arizona]]
[[Category:Hydroelectric power plants in Nevada]]
[[Category:Landmarks in Arizona]]
[[Category:Landmarks in Nevada]]
[[Category:National Historic Landmarks of the United States]]
[[Category:Registered Historic Places in Nevada]]
[[Category:Registered Historic Places in Arizona]]
[[Category:Arch dams]]

[[bg:Хувър бент]]
[[cs:Hooverova přehrada]]
[[da:Hoover Dam]]
[[de:Hoover-Staudamm]]
[[es:Presa Hoover]]
[[fr:Barrage Hoover]]
[[ga:Damba Hoover]]
[[he:סכר הובר]]
[[ka:ჰუვერის კაშხალი]]
[[nl:Hoover Dam]]
[[ja:フーバーダム]]
[[no:Hooverdammen]]
[[pl:Zapora Hoovera]]
[[pt:Represa Hoover]]
[[ru:Плотина Гувера]]
[[sr:Хуверова брана]]
[[fi:Hooverin pato]]
[[sv:Hooverdammen]]
[[th:เขื่อนฮูเวอร์]]
[[zh:胡佛水壩]]

Revision as of 19:56, 12 December 2007

crapppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuufrat headdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Hoover_Dam&oldid=177496237"