I am standing at the edge of the construction site for the Hoover Dam. Above me, a high-scaler climbs the cliffs while the cableway lowers supplies to the workers below. I hear them yelling directions, asking for pipes, razzing each other...
Actually, I am standing in front of a display at the incredible Boulder City-Hoover Dam museum. I have been to small town museums all over the Western U.S. and none can hold a candle to this one. The quality of their displays compare favorably with museums in any of the largest cities.
The museum is located in the historic Boulder City Hotel, a beautiful attraction in itself with a cozy lobby and delightfully creaky wooden staircases that speak to its classic construction. Take a moment to rest in the cushy chairs in front of the fireplace. You won't be disappointed.
The museum takes a chronological look at the history of the construction of the Hoover Dam and the temporary construction city that stayed alive after the project was done. The displays are highly interactive with doors to open, controls to work, and audio to listen to. You also receive a "dam pass" that has stamps you collect along your journey through the museum. It makes a nice souvenir for children.
A few highlights are the window that you can open to fell what the heat was like during the summer months (not so helpful during the summer when you can experience this outside but probably useful for a winter visitor), an operators booth where you can actually drive the cableway cranes, and the phone switchboard where you can listen to oral histories of dam workers and Boulder City residents.
My daughter was bored stiff at the actual dam site but loved this museum. We couldn't keep up with her as she ran from display to display.
The staff is very knowledgeable and very involved with the artifacts on display and with collecting the history of the dam and city. They are actively seeking anyone who was involved with the dam construction or was a resident of boulder city at that time.
Be sure to check out the mystery tool and see if you know what it is. The museum has no idea and so far their research has come up on a dead end and no one has been able to identify exactly what it is.
I recommend this little museum as a short, 20-30 minute side trip on your way between the dam and Las Vegas. It will be worth your while.