As a 43rd wedding anniversary, my husband and I took trip out to see some of the national parks out west. The Hoover Dam was first on our list.
Here are some images I took while we were there.
Since I am not a writer and blogging is very hard for me, I will just give you some information on what we did and where we stayed. And some nice images I was able to capture while there.
We stayed at the Hoover Dam Lodge. It is only a few miles from the Hoover Dam, it has a nice pool and jacuzzi and is very clean and comfortable. We were happy that the rooms were equipped with a fridge and microwave. The hotel also has a casino, restaurant, and bar inside. Located inside the lobby is a gift shop, where you can book a kayaking trip down the Colorado River, which we decided would be fun to do. We had a blast!
The weather at the end of September was sunny and about 80-85 degrees.
How the Hoover Dam Got Its Name
It's interesting to see how the Hoover Dam got it's name. It's been changed many times, depending on which president was in office. As it was being built, the dam was called the Boulder Dam. In September 17, 1930, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, announced that the dam would be renamed The Hoover Dam, after Herbert Hoover, then president. In 1933, Franklin Roosevelt became president, and the name of the dam was changed back to Boulder Dam. In April, 1947, it was officially changed back to Hoover Dam.
Nig, the Mascot
I have a great fondness for stories about animals.. Nig was the only dog allowed on the Hoover dam premises when it was being built. He became the mascot and he was everybody's dog. He even carried his lunch every day with him, because everyone wanted to feed him and he was getting overweight. Nig wandered around the job site; up ladders, over catwalks and through tunnels. He even rode the open-air elevator (called a skiff), and would bark at the operator when he wanted to get off. You can find more detailed information about him here: https://www.hmdb.org/PhotoFullSize.asp?PhotoID=407451
Here is a view of the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge which crosses the Colorado River at the dam. There is a parking lot where you can walk the bridge.
It's a longer walk than you may think! You can probably walk the round trip in 30 minutes or less, but I would plan for an hour because the view from the bridge is both scenic and breath taking!
There are steps up, but also a wheelchair ramp that winds it's way to the top. When you get to the top, you can get a really good view of the dam from the walkway.
Here is a view of the dam from the bridge walkway. Right in the center of the bridge is the Nevada/Arizona state line!
Blazin' Paddles
The day after visiting the Hoover Dam, we booked a kayaking trip down the Colorado River. You can schedule it from your hotel and Blazin' Paddles will pick you up with a shuttle and guide you down the river and back, along with complimentary drinks and snacks. Because it was so warm that day, we needed our sunscreen. It was clear blue skies and around 80 degrees. Our group didn't paddle all the way to the Hoover Dam, but you can if you book a longer trip!
In the next few blogs, I will be showing pictures from the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon and Zion National Park.
You may like to read the other blogs about our trip to the southwest.
Visiting the Hoover Dam in the future? Please leave comment about your impression of the dam.
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