MyWorldReviews.com

Hoover Dam Discovery Tour

Arizona, United States

A view of the Hoover Dam from The Overlook

After arriving and parking at the dam, we proceeded to the entrance area. We walked through metal detectors, while our other belongings (cameras, purses, etc) were put through an x-ray machine. No snacks are permitted in the visitors center - we had a granola bar in a purse (for consumption later in the day), and it was discovered by the x-ray machine.

The ticket counters were located just past security. It should be noted that if you don't want to pay for the full tour, you can simply park your car and walk across the Hoover Dam. All the exhibit areas are off-limits, but you can still admire the dam and walk across it. That being said, the $11 tour was good value, and is recommended. The Hoover Dam itself is also very impressive - it's an engineering wonder. I was very impressed with the size of it, and with the limited technology available when it was built.

The Discovery Tour

On the tour - inside the dam

The tour started off with a short 10-minute video presentation about the history of the dam, and why it was necessary to build it. From there, we waited in a line to meet our tour guide, who split us into two groups to go into elevators, and descend to the bottom of the dam.

At the bottom of the dam, we walked through some rocky tunnels to an exhibit area where we could see very large water tubes. The guide gave us a short lesson on how the dam was constructed.

From there, we proceeded back to the elevators, and moved to the turbine room. The turbine room (pictured here) was over 600 feet long. At its base, Hoover Dam is thicker than the turbine room is long. Wow! We received a short lesson on the turbine room, and then went back to the elevators to go "up top" to the exhibits.

The Exhibits

The Hoover Dam Exhibit Gallery

The exhibit hall was really quite good. At the beginning, there was a lot of information about the history of the dam and why it was built. From there, the exhibits transitioned into how the dam was built, including some information on construction workers and techniques. The exhibit hall also contained some information about how the turbines work, and how the dam generates electricity. None of the exhibits were complicated or technical, but most were quite interesting. The exhibit hall was appropriate for all ages - there was lots of reading for adults, and some interactive exhibits for kids.

The Overlook

On the tour - the Hoover Dam Turbine Room

From the exhibit hall, you can walk up some stairs (or take an elevator) to the overlook area that provides a great view of the dam. Be sure to check it out!

The Old Exhibit Hall

The Hoover Dam Old Exhibit Building

Outside the exhibit hall, in another building, there is the old exhibit building. This building contains a 15-minute presentation that uses lights on a model of the area to accompany a narrative. It talks about why the dam was built. By this point, I had heard the same thing three times already, and didn't need to hear it again. The exhibit was also very dated and boring (which is why it's called the "old exhibit hall"). Feel free to skip this part of the tour.

Cost

Parking at the Hoover Dam costs $7. Admission is $11 per adult, and $9 per child. This cost includes a short video, a tour inside the dam, and access to the exhibit halls and best viewing area ("The Overlook"). The $11 fee is fairly good value.

Directions and Parking

Hoover Dam from the Parking Garage

Hoover Dam is located approximately 45 minutes outside of Las Vegas. Visit the website (or Google Maps) for specific directions on how to get to Hoover Dam. When you arrive, the parking garage ($7) is well marked.