Boulder City Historic District in Clark County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Alabam

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, December 28, 2010

1. Alabam Marker

Inscription. At the height of Hoover Dam construction, more than 7,000 men labored in Black Canyon. Some jobs were glamorous and exciting, such as the high scalers who swung over the canyon on ropes or the cableway operators who kept concrete buckets moving 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Other jobs were more mundane, but no less important: there were mockers who shoveled mud out of the tunnels, truck drivers who hauled rock up and down the river or, like the man you see here, those who swept the outhouses and kept them well supplied with paper.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Events.

Location. 35° 58.603′ N, 114° 50.321′ W. Marker is in Boulder City, Nevada, in Clark County. It is in the Boulder City Historic District. It is at the intersection of Nevada Way and Ash Street, on the right when traveling west on Nevada Way. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Boulder City NV 89005, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is 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 Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: “Rag Town Goddess” (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); “Hitchin’ a Ride” (about 500 feet away); Frank T. Crowe (about 500 feet away); Hoover Dam Memorial (about 500 feet away); Puddler's Break

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(about 600 feet away); The Boulder Dam Hotel (about 700 feet away); Hoover Dam Turbine Runner (approx. ¼ mile away); Boulder City, Nevada (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boulder City.

Alabam Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, December 28, 2010

2. Alabam Sculpture

by Steven Liguori
Artist

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, December 28, 2010

3. Alabam Sculpture

Sculpture Detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, November 26, 2010

4. Sculpture Detail

Information Displayed at the Hoover Dam Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, November 26, 2010

5. Information Displayed at the Hoover Dam Museum

The Unseen Workers Over 16,000 men and women worked on Hoover Dam. Not all had glamorous jobs. One of the best known workers was "Alabam," who cleaned the numerous latrines around the job site. He is representative of all those who toiled behind the scenes to make the construction of Hoover Dam possible.

"Alabam was probably one of the most important men on the job.....with his good necklace: that roll of toilet papers around his neck." ~Marion Allen, worker

Photographed by Denise Boose, November 26, 2010

6. Information Displayed at the Hoover Dam Museum

The Sanitary Engineer The Hoover Dam job site boasted many mechanical and civil engineers. Alabam called himself "the sanitary engineer." 1933

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 6, 2011, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,230 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 6, 2011, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 1, 2013, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.