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Tours & experiences

Hoover Dam Power Plant and Historic Railroad Museum Tour

About this experience

One of seven Industrial World Wonders, Hoover Dam is a concrete gravity-arch dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between Arizona and Nevada. You’ll take the elevator with a guide to the bottom as he/she describes this modern marvel. At the bottom, you’ll tour the powerplant, seventeen main turbine-generator combinations that generate a maximum of 2,074 megawatts of hydroelectric power.
Next, Historic Era Railroad Museum is a must-see for anyone interested in learning more about our country's history or how railroads shaped our nation and Hoover Dam. Boulder City was the federal town established to house workers on the Hoover Dam project. The U.S. Government and Six Companies both operated railroads between the Boulder City Yard and Hoover Dam. These essential railways made the construction of the dam possible and continued to play a vital role in the process well into the 1960s.

Lunch is optional, we'll choose from Cornish Pasty to local favorite restaurants

At a glance

  • Duration: 5 hr–7 hr

Choose your tour option

Select a date and travellers to compare current prices and departure times.

Hoover Dam Power Plant and Historic Railroad Museum Tour
Pickup included

Plan your experience

Time on the tour5 hr–7 hr
Getting therePickup offeredSee pickup details
Guide languagesEnglish (audio guide), English (live guide)

Set aside 5 hr–7 hr for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.

Before you go

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

What is included

  • Bottled water
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Hoover Dam Power Plant Tour
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Walk on Top of the Hoover Dam

Not included

  • Snacks
  • Lunch

Itinerary and highlights

Tour the world-famous Hoover Dam. Learn about the engineering and history of Hoover Dam as well as highlight the unique features around the dam. Exhibits, reclamation presentations, films, and other media materials are used to create an interesting educational tour.

Welcome to the Historic Era Railroad Museum in Boulder City, Nevada. This interesting museum tells the story of how railroads made the Hoover Dam possible and continued to facilitate the construction process into the 1960s.

The museum is housed in a replica of one of the original Six Companies locomotives that operated between the Boulder City Yard and Hoover Dam. This locomotive, along with other exhibits, provides a fascinating glimpse into how railroads played a vital role in the construction of the dam.

In addition to the locomotive, the museum also features a number of other exhibits that tell the story of the dam project. These include a replica of one of the dam's generators, an exhibit on the history of Boulder City, and a look at how railroads continue to play an important role in our country's infrastructure.

The Railroad Museum is a must-see for anyone interested in learning more about our country's history or how railroads have shaped our nation. Check it out today!

Optional Lunch.
The Cornish Pasty originates from Cornwall (Southwest England) and can be traced back as far as the 1200s. Mining was once a thriving industry in Cornwall and at that time pasties were baked by the wives and mothers of the tin miners. Pasties were made with a thick crimped edge along one side so the miners could use the crimp as a handle to hold on to while eating. The miners hand would often be covered in arsenic from the mine, so the miners would discard the handle when they were done. The crusts were never wasted though, as many miners believed that ghosts, or ‘knockers’, inhabited the mines, and the leftover crusts would keep these ghosts content. Traditionally, pasties were made with different fillings at each end. One end contains meat and vegetables, and one end with a sweet filling. The sweet end would be marked with an initial so the miners knew what side to eat first. Today, Cornish pasties are filled with steak, potatoes, swede (rutabaga) and onions.

Meeting and pickup information

  • Release of liability required at time of pickup

Languages and tickets

  • English — Audio
  • English — Guide
  • Mobile Only

Tour operator

  • Desert Wonder Tours

Accessibility and practical details

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Total duration is 6-7 hours includes the transportation from one place to another
  • Persons with pacemakers or other implanted devices-Be advised that generators produce an electromagnetic field which may interfere with the operation of certain devices. Persons with claustrophobia-Be advised the Powerplant Tour includes an elevator ride and walking tour through a tunnel.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Questions about this experience

How long is this experience?
The supplier lists a duration of 5 hr–7 hr.
What are the pickup arrangements?
Release of liability required at time of pickup
Which guide languages are listed?
English (audio guide), English (live guide).
What ticket format is listed?
Mobile ticket.
What ticket age bands are listed?
Adult tickets: age 9+. Check the practical details for participation requirements.
What accessibility information is provided?
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
What is the cancellation policy?
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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