What was Hoover Dam in Nevada originally called?

Hoover Dam was originally called Boulder Dam. Today, this dam is totally known as Hoover Dam; and, it is specifically a concrete arch gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the U.S. states of Nevada and Arizona.

It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. During the dedication ceremony, Roosevelt also referred to the dam as Boulder Dam. Years following the dedication the name Boulder Dam failed to fully take hold with the American public. Many Americans used both names interchangeably.

Its construction was the result of a massive effort involving thousands of workers, and it cost over one hundred lives. Since the dam was controversially named after President Herbert Hoover, a resolution naming the dam as Hoover Dam was passed by congress and signed by President Harry S. Truman in April 1947. Thus, Hoover Dam is now the official name of this structure.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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44 Comments

Gary Newton

I wanted to answer Newton damn because my grandfather, Earl Newton, tested the concrete used to make that dam and others

Dorod Grace

Black canyon ... Boulder City

Sally

Been there and done that. Beautiful place.

lkae

I believe it was named Boulder dam because President Hoover was so unpopular at the time it was finished. I somehow have the idea that he original name was to be Hoover Dam, but since the great depression was blamed on Hoover, the name Boulder Dam was used. I believe the dam was built in Boulder Canyon.

dlh

Yup yup👏

Rebeldog

Frankly Scarlett I don't give a damn

Don Racette

Cheryl McMeekin You forgot to give me the answer.

Cedric Walters

Dam right . Aced it as usual

dsneed

Yeah, I was around during the name change.

earlepg

To me it's always been and should still be Boulder Dam.

Cheryl McMeekin

Got it

littledick

I'm old enough to have first learned it as Boulder Dam. With Truman's GOP do nothing Congress, it's a feather in his cap that he did not veto the name change. Of course we already have a Roosevelt Dam on the Columbia, I believe. In today's political climate I find it a bit difficult to imagine such bipartisanship.

Carroll Price

The naming and re-naming of Hoover Dam is a classic example of political jealousy and envy among the ruling class. Which in this case involved FDR and ex-president Hubert Hoover who proposed building Boulder Dam, and which was not completed until after FDR became president. Which upon it's completion and dedication, FDR, in a snub to a political rival, refused to invite Herbert Hoover to the ceremony, or to mention the fact that Hoover (not him) was responsible for the project being built..