Boulder City is just over 20 miles outside Las Vegas and just a few miles from the impressive Hoover Dam. With only 15,000 residents, the small-town charm is everywhere, and the atmosphere is one of family-oriented fun.
Boulder City was initially built in 1931 to house workers who were building the dam. Gambling and alcohol were prohibited in the city, and Boulder City still stands as one of only two cities in Nevada that prohibits gambling, with drinking only being legal since 1969.
The town isn’t looking to limit anyone’s enjoyment but rather guarantee that everyone has a safe time doing it. There are a lot of people who agree with Boulder City’s small-town charm.
So what is there to do? Any trip to the area must include a stop at the Hoover Dam.
The Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum tells the story of the Boulder Canyon Project as it was experienced by those brave enough to endure the once desolate location to construct it.
Boulder City Dam Museum
Boulder City Dam Museum offers three-dimensional and interactive displays that help visitors understand the social and economic forces of the 1929 Stock Market Crash and Depression that drove thousands of unemployed workers to the Nevada desert.
The photographs and artifacts are unique, and as you view them, the sounds of construction ringing off the walls of Black Canyon reinforce the danger the workers endured.
If, after visiting the dam, you yearn for a more up-close water excursion, Evolution Expeditions offers kayaking. Guides will show you a side of Las Vegas that you never knew existed, including up-close views of the Hoover Dam and the wonders of the Black Canyon.
Boulder City Train Museum
If you are visiting Boulder City on the weekend, the Nevada State Railroad Museum is a must-see attraction. Along with an impressive collection of locomotives and rolling stock, the museum runs train excursions along a section of the old Boulder City line.
The line was initially used by Union Pacific Railroad to shuttle supplies for the construction of Hoover Dam. Today the same line is used to shuttle tourists and railfans on a 45-minute scenic train journey.
Boulder City Nevada Events
The Annual Easter Egg Hunt brings families from all around for an exciting day while the Fine Arts Festival showcases local artists and those from all over the region.
The Wurstfest is an annual tradition. Festivities kick off at ten with the Wurst Dam Car Show, a showcase of several hundred vehicles in the shaded comfort of a park.
I like boulder city. So much to do and see.