"8"^^ . "I certainly hope you still don't believe in the old wives' tale that Hoover Dam was built to harness the Colorado River to generate electricity. No, no ...sheer propaganda. We all know it was constructed to hide a giant energy cube from outer space that turns everyday vehicles into evil, murderous robots. Transformers, y'know. Of course, they were almost discovered when Superman saved the dam during a massive earthquake where he neglected to save Lois Lane. Men.\n\nHoover Dam is so ripe with cinematic possibilities that it is a must-stop if you're in this part of the country. In the depths of the Great Depression, it took hundreds of otherwise unemployable men four hard years to complete this daunting slab of concrete. They say there is enough concrete to build a two-way highway from San Francisco to New York. They say a lot of stuff like that in order to impress you, kinda like a bad match.com profile description. Not that I would know.\n\nIf you look closer at the detail, you can appreciate the art deco touches that lend a historical majesty to the structure. Before 9/11, they used to offer a great hard-hat tour that took you into the bowels of the operation, but now you'll have to mingle with the rest of us plebeians on the standard discovery tour. Beware that they are likely closing the roadway over the top of the dam when the Hoover Dam Bypass is completed in 2010, but the way federal funding has been evaporating ...well, take your time.\n\nHey, you should read my recent article on Hoover Dam as the SF Travel Examiner ....I'm here to fascinate, don't cha know?\nhttp://www.examiner.com/x-515-SF-Travel-Examiner~y2009m3d26-Frankly-my-dear-I-dont-give-a-Hoover-Dam"^^ . "2009-04-04T00:00:00"^^ . "14"^^ . "10"^^ . . "5"^^ . . .