May 24 day 23 – Boulder Dam was a “BIG” thing in 1937, as it is today. The physical dam was only completed in 1936. The lake behind the dam was still filling when Earl and Ethel arrived a year later. Only four electrical generators were installed and operating at the time. The last generator was installed in the early 1960’s. There are now 17 generators operating with a capacity to turn out 2080 megawatts of power. Boulder Dam was renamed Hoover Dam in 1947 for Herbert Hoover (US President 1929-1933) but not without controversy.
There were four photos taken by Earl and Ethel. Public access is not the same as then, but we managed to fairly duplicate what they took.
Water intake towers. E&E’s photo was of the two towers in the foreground. Their photo was taken from the bridge between the two east towers in the background. The water levels are lower today than in 1937 because of prolonged drought in the west.
The public is not allowed on the bridges to the towers today. But one can get fairly close!
Earl looks much more relaxed than his son!
I have seen pictures of the dam before and I remain utterly amazed at the size of this project. How did they build it??? You did a great job recreating the pictures.
The water levels behind many of the dams on the Colorado are very low. Driven by drought, as you say, but I understand also by increased diversion of the water. I do wonder about the sustainability of all that.