American Experience

People & Events

Learn more about important people and events during the construction of Hoover Dam.

• Herbert Hoover, President
• Walker 'Brig’ Young, Surveyor
• Gordon Kaufman, Architect
• Building Boulder City, Housing for the workers
• Six Companies, Construction team
• Hiring African Americans, Poor race relations on the site
• Harold Ickes, Secretary of the Interior
• Workers’ Strike, Over inadequate and dangerous conditions
• Frank Crowe, Chief Engineer
• Naming the Dam, Controversy around the title