Photograph Gallery

Historic Views

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Construction Era Photographs of Hoover Dam
Photo - Black Canyon before construction began, 1922. 
Black Canyon before construction began, 1922
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Photo - Two men in front of a tent. 
During the Depression jobs were hard to come by, and when it was announced that Hoover Dam construction was about to begin, thousands came looking for work, 1931
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Photo - high scalers in Black Canyon. 
High scalers drilling into canyon wall 500 feet above the Colorado River in Black Canyon, site of Hoover Dam, 1932
Photo # Wash No 01333
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Photo - Early construction in Black Canyon 
Early construction in Black Canyon
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Photo - Jumbo Rig 
Before the Dam could be built the Colorado River had to be diverted through tunnels. This piece of equipment, named a Jumbo Rig, was designed to speed up the tunnel drilling process. Built on the back of a 10-ton truck, 24 to 30 drills could be operated at once.
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Tunnel Entrance 
Tunnel Entrance
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Photo - Tunnel bulkhead 
Tunnel bulkhead
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Photo - Tunnel Concrete 
After the tunnel was completed it was lined with three feet of concrete
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Photo - Black Canyon with cofferdams in place. 
Black Canyon showing conditions at the dam sit prior to beginning of excavation between the cofferdams, 1933.
Photo # BCP-01634
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Photo - Excavation of river bed begins 
Excavation of river bed begins
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Photo - Setting the foundation 
Setting the foundation
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Photo - Powerhouse under construction 
Powerhouse under construction
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Photo - Hoover Dam under construction, almost finished 
Almost finished
Photo # BCP-3252
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Photo - Hoover Dam upstream face, 1935 
Upstream face, 1935
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Photo - Hoover Dam after construction completed. 
Finished
Photo # P45-300-01501
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For information on ordering prints, video footage or other images, contact the Lower Colorado Regional Photo Lab staff by e-mail to: lcmedia@usbr.gov, or by phone at 702-293-8591. If a photo number is listed, please use that for any requests.

Last Updated: 3/13/15