Boulder City in Clark County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Design Decisions
Hoover Dam
Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, September 9, 2025
1. Design Decisions Marker
Planning and designing the Memorial Bridge took two years, during which multiple options for its design were considered.
Five types of bridge designs were evaluated for their costs, aesthetic appeal, and capacity to withstand high winds, extreme heat, and earthquakes.
The suspension bridge alternative was rejected mainly because of high costs for maintenance and logistical challenges with construction staging. Golden Gate Bridge, California, USA.
The truss bridge alternative would have required extensive excavation, and there were concerns about its capacity to handle heat expansion. Its asymmetry was also considered a problem.
A Cable-stay bridge would have visually intruded on the skyline.. The cables would wear quickly in the high winds that commonly buffet Black Canyon, creating high maintenance costs.
The length of the unsupported span on a girder bridge design would have exceeded the existing world record. The girder alternative, though, was rejected mainly because of the expense and environmental impact of blasting required.
The Deck arch design that was ultimately implemented for the Memorial
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Bridges & Viaducts.
Location. 36° 0.911′ N, 114° 44.692′ W. Marker is in Boulder City, Nevada, in Clark County. It is on Hoover Dam Access Road. This marker is beside the American's Finest marker. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 81 Hoover Dam Access Road, Boulder City NV 89005, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Nevada’s Colorado River Valley, in the Mojave Desert, and in Greater Las Vegas. It is also in the American Southwest and in the Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Breaking the Bottle Neck (here, next to this marker); Step by Step (here, next to this marker); Discover Hoover Dam (here, next to this marker); Worthy of the Neighborhood (here, next to this marker); For the Record (a few steps from this marker); Get Good Footing with Anchors & Foundations (a few steps from this marker); Find Solid Ground with Surveys & Tests (within shouting distance of this marker); America's Finest (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boulder City.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2025, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 49 times since then and 14 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on September 27, 2025, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
