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The construction of the Hoover Dam was the culmination of years of attempts to harness the Colorado River. If controlled, the Colorado could irrigate countless acres of potential farmland. |
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| After years of surveys and planning, the United States government announced the Boulder Canyon Project. |
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| Consisting of a dam in Black Canyon and a canal to irrigate the Imperial Valley, the Boulder Canyon Project was the first of its kind in US history. |
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| The logistics of the dam were mind-boggling. The river needed to be diverted for two years, and part of the riverbed excavated down to the bedrock. The project was to be funded both privately and federally. The lowest bidder, Six Companies, was awarded the construction contract for $48,890,955. | |
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| Hired as project foreman by Six Companies, Frank Crowe would become one of the most well known figures during dam construction. |
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Thousands of men and their families flocked to Las Vegas and the surrounding area in hopes of finding a well-paying job. |
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| With no place to stay, many of the families settled in "Ragtown", a neighborhood characterized by hastily constructed dwellings made from whatever materials were on hand. |
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| In the 1930s, there was no air conditioning and people were used to dealing with the heat of the summer months. The heat of Black Canyon, however, was more than most residents of Ragtown had ever endured. As the heat soared past 120 degrees, mothers draped wet blankets over cradles, used canned milk instead of fresh, and made frequent dips in the river to cool off. Nonetheless, these measures weren't enough to protect some individuals who succumbed to the heat and died. |
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 | Before the dam could be built, the river itself had to be diverted. Drilling four tunnels through the canyon walls temporarily altered the Colorado's course, allowing for the construction of the arch gravity dam. |
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| Next, the riverbed had to be excavated. For months, the men hauled away truckloads of debris until they reached the bedrock of the riverbed. Once the riverbed was excavated, it was time to build the damn. Built in columnar sections of cement, the dam gradually became a reality. |
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| Six Companies also had to provide housing for 80% of its employees. Las Vegas, with its notorious reputation, was out of the question. A new town was built, complete with its own store and hospital. With over 5,000 men on the payroll at the height of construction, the waiting list for a Six Companies house was very long. |  |
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| As people began to settle in Boulder City, a sense of community quickly began to develop. There were so many children in Boulder City it soon became apparent that a school was needed. |
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| Six Companies was committed to hiring military veterans, but they were adamant in their refusal to hire anyone who wasn't an American citizen. "Chinamen" were expressly forbidden from the project, and Native Americans were only hired for jobs carried out in dangerous locations. African- Americans were relegated to menial jobs that other workers didn't want. |
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| While Native Americans were allowed to live in Boulder City, African-Americans had to make their own living arrangements. Many settled on the West side of Las Vegas. |
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| Las Vegas was more than just a place to live. It offered the
perfect environment to relax after a day at the work site. |
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| Not only was the Las Vegas Valley cooler than
Black Canyon, it had plenty of cheap entertainment. Gambling, bracketed
by alcohol and prostitutes, offered an escape from the pressures of everyday
life. |
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| Although construction was not quite complete, the dam was formally dedicated on September 30, 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was awed by the wonder of the dam and the people who had worked so hard during its construction. |
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| As the dam and adjoining works began to take their final shape, construction crews began heading out for new projects. |
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