Hoover Dam

A symbol of American innovation and progress during the Great Depression.

The Hoover Dam has made frequent appearances in various forms of media due to its size and national prominence within the United States. Even before construction began, politicians and newspapers in the Southwest rallied public support by publishing conceptual sketches and vivid descriptions of the resources it would provide. Often described with terms like "great," the project was compared to engineering marvels such as the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Wall of China. The Los Angeles Times famously labeled it a "gateway of Empire." Once construction started, imagery shifted from conceptual to documentary, with the Bureau of Reclamation publishing photographs in newspapers and magazines to ensure continued support.

Quick Facts

First appearance: Fallout: New Vegas

Lore & Background

During the ongoing Great Depression, the immense size of the project—both physically and in terms of workers employed—cemented the dam in the American popular consciousness as a symbol of innovation. Influential artists including modernist Charles Sheeler, muralist William Gropper, illustrator Hugh Ferriss, and photographer Ansel Adams all produced works depicting the structure. Capitalizing on this popularity, private businesses began using images of the dam to advertise products for brands like Alcoa, Coca-Cola, Jim Beam, Pan Am, Pontiac, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Sunoco, Studebaker, and Westinghouse. The National Park Service also sought to use the newly formed Lake Mead to promote tourism in the area.

Reader's Guide

Following its completion, Hoover Dam became increasingly culturally tied to Las Vegas due to the city's massive cultural and economic expansion. The structure has been used in media to convey scale or highlight engineering feats. In 1950, the noir film "711 Ocean Drive" featured a gunfight on top of the dam after a pursuit through its tunnels. Decades later, in 1985, "Lost in America" showcased a comedic fight between protagonists on top of the dam and inside one of its power stations. In 1996, "Beavis and Butt-Head Do America" saw the characters accidentally release water behind the dam, causing a blackout for Las Vegas. More recently, in 2007, "Transformers" used the dam to house the remains of Megatron, subjecting it to an attack by Decepticons.

Did You Know?

Ansel Adams produced a series of photographs featuring the dam between 1941–42.
The 1936 film "Boulder Dam" followed a protagonist named Rusty whose character developed as construction progressed.