Proposed in 1910 as a way of fulfilling the dream of a "garden of the West," Hoover Dam was the first of many Colorado River dams proposed to help irrigate the dry land. It remains one of the engineering wonders of the twentieth century. Named after President Herbert Hoover (1874–1964), an engineer by trade, its four million cubic yards of concrete cost over $165 million to erect. From 1935 onwards, Hoover Dam brought water and electricity to communities in the dry western states.

Amidst the Great Depression (1929–41; see entry under 1930s—The Way We Lived in volume 2), the dam became a symbol of revival. It has appeared in films, in advertising (see entry under 1920s—Commerce in volume 2), and on collectibles of all kinds. The elegant curve of Hoover Dam is an enduring image of the American West. Unfortunately, this great monument to progress also helped kill one of the...