Hoover Dam

This past week we went on a long trip and saw quite a few new places. The first stop we made was to the famous Hoover Dam. I have read about the Hoover Dam and it was especially vivid in my imagination every time I would listen to "The Highwaymen" growing up. The lyrics go,

"I was a dam builder across the river deep and wide

Where steel and water did collide

A place called Boulder on the wild Colorado

I slipped and fell into the wet concrete below

They buried me in that great tomb that knows no sound

But I'm still around, I'll always be around and around and around and around."

The Hoover Dam was built in the 1930s during the Great Depression. It controls water from the Colorado River and sits between the states of Arizona and Nevada.  While there were many deaths associated with the construction of this dam, they say its a myth that men fell into the concrete and were eternally entombed within its walls. However, it was still fascinating to see such a great structure and think of all that went into its construction. 

Security at Hoover Dam is quite high. The dam reportedly gets more than 1,000,000 visitors every year. We had to go through a security checkpoint and they even checked the toolbox before allowing us to drive on over the dam. We parked on the Arizona side and then got out to walk over the dam and to the Nevada side. 

It was fascinating to see, though the height made me somewhat anxious. Ever since I have had children I find it very hard to be able to relax and enjoy the view if there is any height involved. I found myself clinging to my boys extra hard and didn't breathe easy until we were back in the truck.