I love the hotel and this museum underneath it. I walked through it in about 20 minutes and enjoyed it very much. I think it helps to go to the dam first and then walk through this museum afterwards. read more

Could you imagine...... Could you imagine a time when you had to go hungry, or not have a job to support your family . You had to figure "life" out ! Sounds like some movie, we live in America the greatest country in the world. At one point in our history or a few the people were hungry and times were difficult. In fact no one had a job. This reference refers to the Great Depression . To control the wild Colorado River and make jobs the government started the Hoover dam project . This project was a plan so huge that it put individuals back to work . The dam was a huge endeavor and engineering project. It would dictate how the Colorado River and its allocation would affect California, Arizona, and Nevada water rights . The city of Boulder was the town created to house the workers and their families during this time of building. This first phase of the city of Boulder was controlled by the federal government. The city had bans on gambling, drinking, and enforced strict rules . These early settlements were not nice or great. The living conditions were poor. In fact prior to Boulder was conceived the living condition were something referred to as "Rag Town." It was a collection of shacks and tents. The worst possible. As an individual walks through this museum you can have a glimpse at what the average individual life's journey resembled through their eyes. What was daily life like ? What challenges did they encounter? What a great impact this museum presents through the workers point of view. The museum is put together so well . All the work that went into gathering the artifacts and information was done by hands that wanted others to see the world through their eyes . read more

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4.5 stars This little museum is located inside the historical Boulder Dam Hotel. Frankly, I was charmed by this hotel and would love to return someday for a stay. But, moving onto the museum...it is a small museum that packs a punch with the journey starting in the Great Depression when whole families migrated to places where they could get work. One of those places was Boulder city where the Boulder Dam (now known as Hoover Dam) was being built. The history of building the Hoover Dam is rife with struggle and, without the contributions of Depression-era Americans, this dam would not be possible. This museum highlights the struggle and sacrifice of these people, the development of Boulder City, and how politics played a huge role in keeping Boulder City from turning into the next Las Vegas, as well as drama over naming/renaming the Hoover Dam. The "official" count of industrial fatalities is 96 per the Bureau of Reclamation, but more industry-related fatalities have been suspected. The dam was built in 1931 and completed in 1936 with hydroelectric generators going online in 1937. Total cost was approximately $49 million (about $1 billion adjusted for inflation). The Hoover Dam is predicted to last 10,000 years, but experts believe other elements like water shortage would put the dam out of commission before the dam actually stops working. The Hoover Dam is still considered an engineering marvel with visits from 7 million tourists annually. This museum is worth the visit and it's free! There's free street parking as well. Highly recommend! read more

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We've visited this little gem before, but this time we brought friends -- because when you're proud of a place, you share it. And the Boulder City-Hoover Dam Museum, tucked inside the historic Boulder Dam Hotel, is one of those hidden-in-plain-sight spots worth showing off. First off, the hotel itself is a piece of history -- it's listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and looks like it might whisper stories if you hang around long enough. The museum is up on the second floor and while it's not huge, it's absolutely jam-packed with history. You've got: Tons of photos from the 1930s dam construction Real artifacts that were actually used to build the Hoover Dam Informative displays And some pretty solid documentary films (great if you need to sit and cool off for a bit) If you're a history buff, this place is like a time machine with air conditioning. You could easily spend a couple of hours here if you read everything and watch the videos -- or just take a quicker walk-through and still come away with a deeper appreciation of the grit and genius it took to build one of the greatest engineering feats of all time. Best of all? Admission is free. But come on -- don't be cheap. Drop a few Dam dollars in the donation box and help keep this history alive. read more

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If you want to know more about how Hoover Dam is built, this is the museum all about it. Not too far from Hoover Dam place, it's the history all about it. Totally recommended if you want to learn the history of it. read more

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This nice little museum is located inside the Boulder Dam Hotel and is completely free. It's a small museum, but very nicely done as it provides a lot of useful and interesting information about the history of Boulder City and the dam. It's a walk through with various exhibits in several rooms. It took me about 30 minutes to complete, so it's not really very extensive but well worth the visit. read more

Boulder City- Hoover Dam Museum - Entrance to Museum inside the Boulder Dam Hotel - Museums Near Me - Boulder City, Nevada

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I didn't expect this place to be this good. I've learned a lot about Hoover dam without going there haha. I mean it's free so why not

A really enjoyable experience in a small space. An excellent illustration of so many aspects of history ....... both good and bad depending on one's point if view. A few minutes of observation could generate hours of interesting, thoughtful discussion between open-minded individuals that might clarify those various view points ..... :-). read more

It's History to Me Small, free museum located inside the Boulder Dam Hotel. The Good: *Free but they ask for donations *Small collection of photographs, artifacts and written personal accounts of the building of the Boulder/Hoover Dam. *Gives a good history of how the name changed from "Boulder Dam" to "Hoover Dam." The Meh: *Very small place that you can walk thru in less than 20min. Tldr: Nothing worth going out of your way for but if you're staying in the hotel or visiting DT Boulder City then def worth a look. read more

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Dam fascinating piece of US history. The Dam people were nice and helpful, the Dam exhibits were really well all around. Had a Dam good visit. read more

We had an awesome visit to Hoover Dam again, this time showing our Grandsons. They were completely in awe of it!! Although we weren't able to see the documentary films this time since it was the day after Thanksgiving and oh so busy & packed. It's a trip they want to come back & finish. I highly recommend seeing the dam up close and walking the walkway near the freeway. You get a full look at just how massive this really is! They loved the view and are so interested in what it took to build this. They were able to see the historic side of Boulder City and where many of the workmen lived and raised their families. It's good to go at the opening time so you can get a parking place at go at your own pace to see the films and views. There is a really nice gift shop & a cafe tgat has a screaming burger!! Dint miss this!! read more

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My husband, myself, and three adult children drove to Boulder City for a tour of the Boulder City-Hoover Dam Hotel and Museum, Saturday, July 3rd, on my youngest daughter's 25th birthday. This hotel is listed on The National Register of Historic Places. There is a wealth of history involving the hotel. Later in its life, they added the museum when a group of residents went about to save it when it fell into disrepair in the '90s. It's both charming and welcoming upon entering the front door. It has an ancient grand piano in the sitting area with a beautiful fireplace that beckons the visitor to its mantle. Hollywood elite from year's past were guests there in its folds, some longer than others. This hotel and many of the surrounding buildings and homes were constructed by workers who built the dam. The architecture is impressive because there weren't modern amenities and conveniences we take for granted today. Upstairs you will find a self-guided tour through the displays and pictures of the building of the dam and home sites of the families. It's educational and gives the visitor a brief look inside the lives of the men who built the dam, the photographer who took many of the photos documenting the history of it's construction from it's inception to it's completion. My family and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit. I recommend checking it out. Admission is free. Donations can be made at the end of the tour by the guest book of $5.00. Hours are Monday -Sunday 7am to 7pm. read more

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Very interesting. Very historic and informatics. The place is great a lot to learn from specialty that i ,I've going to Boulder City. The place is perfect it is in a historic hotel with a great restaurant and a FREE museum yes you read it right FREE! Of course toward the end of the tour there is a donation box where it so worth it to give a few buckaroos. I have taken a a lot of photos for you guys to see what I am talking about. The place has a lot of parking . Informative brochures are also in there to see, audio and visual. So if you are around the area this place is a must stop by and check it out. I do recommend this place and will surely be back. read more

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This is a great stop on your way to or from the dam. We opted to skip the tour at the dam due to long lines but I remembered this little museum in Boulder City so we stopped in. The museum is free, small (about 3 rooms), but it's very well put together and is really high quality. The museum walks you through the building process of the dam and the growth of Boulder City around the dam, and also has a 20 minute film that goes in-depth about building the dam and installing the turbines. The museum has a small but very fairly priced gift shop. They also take donations for the museum now that they don't charge anything for admission. Overall, I really like this museum and I like bringing people here when we drive through Boulder City to go to the dam. I'd recommend stopping in if you haven't gotten the chance, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how great this little local museum is. read more

I enjoy museums. Unlike many of the monotonous college lectures that I sat through where I wished I was anyplace else, well-done museums are successful at making the exact subject entertaining and keeping my attention. A well-done museum tells a story. The Boulder City-Hoover Dam Museum tells a story of a hostile desert that through the hard work of Six Companies employees created an engineering marvel, lake, and commendable city. A couple of Saturdays previous (closed on Sundays) after having breakfast downstairs at the Restaurant in the historic Boulder Dam Hotel, I was up for this story. This is a tiny museum large on substance. It sits in level two of the Boulder Dam Hotel. When you enter the Boulder Dam Hotel through the main entrance off Arizona Street, head for the staircase that is directly ahead and to the right of registration. But stop for a second. If you are hungry, to the left is the Restaurant. They serve a decent breakfast in a historical setting. After stopping for a second, you want to climb up the staircase to level two. At the end of the hall is the museum. When you walk down the hall, keep in mind that admission is $2 for adults. The Boulder City-Hoover Dam Museum is a square layout divided into separate rooms that correspond to the nine exhibits. These nine exhibits are the chapters of the story. It is a story told through signs with white letters on a gray background, maps, memorabilia, antiques, pictures, displays, the sound of hammering, and interpretive exhibits. The pictures that myself and fellow Yelpers posted showcase the exhibits. Walking into the museum counter clockwise, the story starts off as a desert region that is inhospitable to living in the era of the Great Depression. Walking deeper into the museum counter clockwise, the story develops into the idea of turning the desert into a hospitable region.The seeds of the Hoover Dam is born. Suffering and perseverance are the themes. Exhibits display the suffering that newcomers experienced. The suffering exacerbated with the conditions of the Seven Companies employees when they labored to build the dam. The exhibits show in detail the suffering. Another theme of the story is a celebration of building the Hoover Dam. I learned amazing facts such as, "Engineers had calculated that if the dam were built in one piece, the heat produced by the setting concrete would take 125 years to cool." When I progressed through the museum, I was progressing through an education in Hoover Dam. The vintage exhibit is Lives on the Line. This is a room size diorama of Six Companies Workers constructing Hoover Dam. From here the museum focuses on the development of Boulder City. An interesting fact is that it was a company town that was supposed to be temporary. The exhibits continue the story with a map of the original Boulder City grid overlapped with today's Boulder City. The exhibits talk about the naming of Boulder City and the first City Manager. Additional exhibits help tell the story. As the museum concludes, the story has a surprising ending:" Today power from Hoover Dam plays just a small role in lighting up Las Vegas. The real benefit comes from Lake Mead, which supplies most of the water that has helped make the Las Vegas Valley one of the busiest, fastest growing areas in the country." Regardless that this museum trails in size to the Clark County Museum and Nevada State Museum, color me impressed. It held my attention for the half hour that I spent there. I left with an education on the construction and history of the Hoover Dam and development of Boulder City. I recommend visiting this museum with a Boulder City or Lake Mead attraction. Or even part of a tour of the Boulder City Historic District. And if you visit it, I also recommend combining it with a breakfast downstairs in the Restaurant. I guarantee that when you leave the Boulder City-Hoover Dam Museum that you will gain more knowledge on Hoover Dam and Boulder City. And, knowledge is power! read more

While walking to Sherman's House of Antiques I noticed a beautiful old building across the street. It was the Boulder Dam Hotel. Its sign out front advertised a restaurant and receptions, as well as a museum. "Museum?" I thought to myself, "That can't be right." So I walked in and asked the lady working in the lobby if there really was a museum in the hotel. Sure enough there is, and it's located up a couple of steps and down a hallway. I wasn't expecting much. Besides the fact that it was at the end of a hallway in an old hotel, it's in the sleepy town of Boulder City. I was imagining some signs they had printed themselves with maybe a few artifacts from the dam. That was about it. (No offense to Boulder City- I'm from a small town too and know what they usually count as a "museum"). Well, I have to say I was very happy to see how well-made this museum was. Yes, it was still a bit on the small side, but it was definitely as nice as any of the museums back in Vegas. Professionally designed information hangs on the walls and there are plenty of interactive exhibits to keep things interesting. There were also a few areas where they were playing audio-testimonials from people who had built the dam or lived in Boulder City at the time. Although I've learned a lot of this information previously from the Springs Preserve and the Clark County Museum, I still managed to learn a few new things during my stay here. The most interesting bit was that the government had planned to tear Boulder City down once the dam was finished. Instead, the town stayed and was finally handed over from the government to become incorporated in 1960. If you are a tourist visiting the Hoover Dam, I think this is a nice stop to learn a little more about the history and what went into building the Dam. If you are a local, this is a fun place to spend an hour and learn more about the history of this area. Even if you know a bit about the Dam from other museums in town, you still may learn something new like I did! Honestly, if this museum were located in Vegas I might give it three stars since I don't think I'll feel the urge to go back a second time. But considering this is in Boulder City, down a hotel hallway, and only costs $2 a person, I think a four star review is fair. read more

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Fun little museum! We stayed here a few nights and as hotels guests we were able to get in for free. I saw a sign that said something like $2 per person. Which isn't too bad. Unless you're cheap... Its full of good info on the area and about Hoover dam. If you're into history like I am this is a place you want to visit before you go to Hoover dam. Will only take about 30 minutes of your time. And you'll help out the humble Boulder city hotel. read more

Was planning on driving to the dam itself but traffic was backed up all the way to Boulder City so decided to settle for visiting the museum. No regrets! Learning about the history of the dam, the politics, the engineering, the physical construction, the pay of the workers in their various jobs, and the awful working conditions really made me appreciate the dam far more than a live glimpse (which I swear I'll do every time I go to Vegas, but something always comes up). The museum itself is located on the ground floor in the back of a hotel. Displays aren't particularly fancy but the admission fee is only a couple of dollars. There is a 20 minute film that is definitely worth watching. Seeing the dam and going through their tour is next on my list but I'm glad to have learned about all of the facets of the history of the dam before getting lost in the enormity of the structure itself. read more

We decided to drive down to Boulder City and came across this Museum. At first, we thought it was just a hotel on the outside, but when we got inside, it's much bigger inside than it does outside. Upon entering, you got a restaurant on one side, and the front desk. They were nice enough to direct us to the back where the museum was. We also saw stairways to the hotel room, which seems to be on the second floor. But we went around the corner to the back towards the museum. The place itself looks very well maintained and very elegant looking. The museum is in the back and a good size to hold the history of Hoover Dam. A few bucks per person and you get to walk around and see how it was like back in the days of construction. Get to learn how people lived, how people were looking for work. Also got to see how it look when they were building the dam. After experiencing what was done back then, you get the opportunity to watch a small video that tells you how the dam was made and how it was back then. Overall, I would really take the time to go see this, especially if you plan to see the hoover dam. It may be a bit far from the hoover dam itself, but if you want to see how it was built and are amazed by the little things, this is probably a good place to visit. read more

I am standing at the edge of the construction site for the Hoover Dam. Above me, a high-scaler climbs the cliffs while the cableway lowers supplies to the workers below. I hear them yelling directions, asking for pipes, razzing each other... Actually, I am standing in front of a display at the incredible Boulder City-Hoover Dam museum. I have been to small town museums all over the Western U.S. and none can hold a candle to this one. The quality of their displays compare favorably with museums in any of the largest cities. The museum is located in the historic Boulder City Hotel, a beautiful attraction in itself with a cozy lobby and delightfully creaky wooden staircases that speak to its classic construction. Take a moment to rest in the cushy chairs in front of the fireplace. You won't be disappointed. The museum takes a chronological look at the history of the construction of the Hoover Dam and the temporary construction city that stayed alive after the project was done. The displays are highly interactive with doors to open, controls to work, and audio to listen to. You also receive a "dam pass" that has stamps you collect along your journey through the museum. It makes a nice souvenir for children. A few highlights are the window that you can open to fell what the heat was like during the summer months (not so helpful during the summer when you can experience this outside but probably useful for a winter visitor), an operators booth where you can actually drive the cableway cranes, and the phone switchboard where you can listen to oral histories of dam workers and Boulder City residents. My daughter was bored stiff at the actual dam site but loved this museum. We couldn't keep up with her as she ran from display to display. The staff is very knowledgeable and very involved with the artifacts on display and with collecting the history of the dam and city. They are actively seeking anyone who was involved with the dam construction or was a resident of boulder city at that time. Be sure to check out the mystery tool and see if you know what it is. The museum has no idea and so far their research has come up on a dead end and no one has been able to identify exactly what it is. I recommend this little museum as a short, 20-30 minute side trip on your way between the dam and Las Vegas. It will be worth your while. read more

First class museum. Interactive, informative and can be walked through in less than 2 hours without missing a thing.

Really well done. Very easy to read and understand. Good video presentation. Glad we poked our head in.

I am not sure that I am reviewing the right place. is this the museum that shows how the politicians argued for and against the dam? and how many years it took to build it and the economy at the time and the builder's lingo and the newspaper clippings about deaths that occurred during the building of the dam? if this is that same museum, it was so interesting and a wonderful educational experience. but I am surprised that I am the first reviewer... I don't even write very well, so I couldn't put into words exactly how great it is read more

It was super hot at the dam today, 109 degrees, so we couldn't stay too long before feeling really tired and overwhelmingly hot, so we didn't go to the visitor center or do the tour - what a pleasant surprise to find an entire, top notch museum IN OUR HOTEL!! I thought it was gonna be hokey or cheesy but it's actually a legit, well done and well stocked museum - filled with artifacts from the building of the Hoover Dam in the '30's - excellent and informative and fun. read more

I was so pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this museum. My husband and I are such history buffs and we decided to go to the hoover dam after a very disappointing trip we decided to stop here and we couldn't have been more delighted. The building itself is historic and the museum seems small but it expands as you go in. I learned so much more here than at the actual dam. It's interactive and they even have a separate room that holds events for children to experience the old life like churning butter and such. I recommend this to any one who enjoys a good museum. read more

Well worth the $2. This was more informative than the tour at the actual Dam. That was interesting, but if you want to really learn about the history of how it was built this is where to go. read more

We were exploring old shops in Boulder City and saw a sign for this place. At first glance we thought the building was just a hotel. But the museum is inside the hotel. We went through it in about an hour and a half. Very educational. Tells you about the start of Boulder City and Hoover Dam. The live of a worker and his family. Tools they used. It was very interesting. Friendly staff. read more

What a pleasant surprise to pass the time waiting for our Grand Canyon helicopter tour. Only two dollars per person and fascinating information. Short but full of interesting history and very cleverly designed to be engaged...interactive bit independent. read more

Cool lil' museum on the history of Boulder City and the dam.