Hoover Dam - How was it built?

Hoover Dam

By Ana Roche-Freeman

Blood, concrete, and dynamite: Building the Hoover Dam - Alex Gendler

In the early 20th century, the US had expanded from coast to coast, but many cities in the southwest still lacked reliable water sources. The Colorado River's erratic flow and frequent floods made it unreliable for agriculture, and the region’s growing cities needed more energy. So the government decided to build a massive hydroelectric dam. Alex Gendler details the creation of the Hoover Dam in the video on the next slide.

Multiple Choice

Which government agency was responsible for building the dam?

• Bureau of Reclamation

• Army Corps of Engineers

• Department of Homeland Security

Multiple Choice

Which river was the dam built on?

• Rio Grande

• Mississippi River

• Colorado

  River

• Mystic River

Multiple Choice

Which was NOT one of the causes of worker fatalities?

• Heat stroke

• Decompression sickness

• Carbon monoxide poisoning

• Falling objects

Multiple Choice

How was the concrete cooling process accelerated?

• Ice mixed in with the concrete

• Concrete poured in refrigerated chambers

• Steel pipes inside the blocks carrying cold water

Multiple Choice

What year was the dam completed?

• 1935

• 1938

• 1932

• 1934

Open Ended

What were some of the reasons for building the dam?

Open Ended

What were some of the negative impacts of the dam’s construction?