History of The Hoover Dam Trivia Quiz

Answer: False

Although many men died during the construction work, none was buried in the concrete.

Answer: $50 Million

The contract, allowing for the construction of the Hoover Dam, was awarded to 6 companies on March 11th, 1931. The actual winning bid was $48,890,995.

Answer: Herbert Hoover

Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States, was preceeded by Calvin Coolidge and followed by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Answer: Boulder Dam

The Hoover dam started out being named "Boulder Dam". When Herbert Hoover became President, he changed the name in 1930 to "Hoover Dam". Then when Roosevelt became President, the name was changed back to "Boulder Dam" until 1947 when President Truman permanently renamed it "Hoover Dam".

Answer: False

It was actually constructed in Black Canyon - 20 miles south of the original site which would have been in Boulder Canyon. The Dam is located about 30 miles Southeast of Las Vegas.

Answer: 96

There is a plaque at the visitors' center dedicated to the men who died during the construction.

Answer: 2 years

Lake Mead stores 9.2 trillion gallons of water. That's 28.5 million acre-feet. (An acre-foot of water would cover a football field to the depth of 1 foot).

Answer: The jobsite mascot

The mascot was a black puppy that kept the guys company. He died when he was run over by one of the trucks on the site.

Answer: Anyone could move there

The town housed Government and contracted employees. Anyone wanting to even get in had to be registered with the 6 companies and have a passcard. They had a check point entry with armed guards and the town was fenced in.

Answer: 1933

During the Great Depression (1930-40) unemployment in U.S. averaged about 18%. In 1933 it reached a temporary peak of just under 25%. In the early 1930s unemployment rose sharply and President Hoover saw that the construction of the dam would bring jobs to some of those out of work.

Answer: Jobs

People flocked from around the country hoping to get in on the work. Many of them signed up under numerous assumed names to increase their chances of getting work.

Answer: Mead

Lake Mead stretches 110 miles upstream with over 550 miles of shoreline and contains the largest year round recreational area in the country. Its maximum depth is 590 feet. It was named after Reclamation Comissioner Dr. Elwood Mead.

Answer: True

Some of the most interesting artwork I have seen.

Answer: 17

The average annual net generation for the power plant is approximately 4 billion kw hours. The maximum was in 1984 with 10,348,020,500 kw hours, with the minimum in 1956 at 2,648,224,700 kw hours. (A kilowatt hour is equal to a unit of energy or work done by 1 kw of power working for 1 hour.)

Answer: Puddlers

There was a rumor going about that men had been trapped in the concrete. It's false.

Answer: High scalers

They were the highest paid men on the site. Making the top pay of $5.60 a day. There's a statue at the vistor's center depicting a High Scaler.

Answer: May 29th, 1935

June 6th, 1933 - The FIRST bucket of concrete was poured. November 13th, 1932 - The Arizona side of diversion tunnels were opened allowing the water to be diverted for construction to begin. February 1st, 1945 - The last diversion tunnel was plugged allowing the water level to fill up behind the dam.

Answer: Boulder City

They built this city with everything the families would need. Stores, a movies theater (movies cost 10 cents)and Laundromat. But there were no bars, saloons, or houses of ill-repute. They also had their own police force... supplied by the military.

Answer: 2 Years

On November 13th, 1932 the Arizona side of the diversion tunnels were opened to divert the flow of the river. Changing a flow that had run that course for over 12 million years. The last diversion tunnel was sealed on February 1st, 1945.

Answer: To control flooding.

All of the answers are true, but their primary reason was the intense need to control the flooding in and around the Colorado River basin.