Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam is the place to stand inside a dam rather than just look at one. The Guided Dam Tour rides the original elevator, walks the inspection tunnels at the center of the dam and looks out at the Colorado River through an inspection ventilation shaft, then continues into the powerplant. The cheaper Power Plant Tour still walks the original construction tunnels and shows eight of the generators in the Nevada powerhouse. The human cost is part of the visit too. The official count is 96 men who died at the dam site during construction, and that figure leaves out deaths from heat and illness. If you are short on time, the self-guided visitor center and its 360-degree observation deck still give a good overview.