Hoover Dam Sculptures and Surroundings

Here are a few more photos taken from the old road that goes over the top of Hoover Dam. Yes, Casey, the little narrow road you mention is this road over the dam. It is from this vantage point you can get the best view of the new by-pass bridge that was built. We didn't stop the car and get out so I don't have any shots actually looking down into the dam. The dam was built between 1931 - 1935 and I love the architecture style from that period. To read in more detail here is a link Sculptures at Hoover Dam, if anyone is considering a visit to the dam read this before you go so you can better appreciate the art that is Hoover Dam. I wish we would have gotten out of the car so I could have taken more pictures of all the great artistic work that it there.

One of two winged figures flanking each side of the 142 foot flag pole. These sculpture were done by artist Oskar J. W. Hansen, a native of Norway and naturalized American citizen. These bronze casting are said to be the largest ever cast in the United States, the castings are 30 feet high and the shells are 5/8 inch thick and contain more than four tons of statuary bronze.

The base upon which the figures rest is black diorite, quarried near Santa Ana, California. In order to protect the huge block bases from being marred during placement they were first centered and rested on blocks of ice,  the gradual melting of the ice allowed the bases to be lowered into precise position.

Here is the entrance to Hoover Dam exhibits and tours, a sleek, clean thirties design nestled into the rough Nevada/Arizona border.

This was taken as we actually were driving on the road over the dam itself from the Nevada side to the Arizona side.

I couldn't get over all the the shapes and designs that came through in this one photograph. Again the softness and color of the palms trees growing there in harmony with all of the sharp horizontals and verticals and the harsh angular pipes cascading down the mountain.

This is the elevator which takes you down to the bottom of the dam for the tour. If you click on the image you can get a better view of the designs on the outside.

Another elevator as its door catches the reflection of the late afternoon sun.

I was going to crop this figure to just show the Hoover Dam sign but I got such a kick out of the guy having his picture taken I didn't want all his efforts to be in vain. I bet he never thought he was going to end up in St. Louis, Missouri. Anyway Mr. Whomever You Are Guy, you made me smile. Thanks.

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