Hoover Dam (also known as Boulder Dam) was constructed between 1931 and 1936, and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President Franklin Roosevelt. It sits in the Black Canyon portion of the Colorado River on the border between Arizona and Nevada.
When I was 16, my best friend got his driver’s license and we drove on an adventure from California to Boulder City, Nevada to visit his Aunt and Uncle. His Aunt and Uncle lived in one of the little cottage-type houses that were originally built to house the workers who constructed the dam (cool little houses with desert rock gardens). This was the first time I saw the dam and it was so massive and magnificent that it took my breath away, and I’ve been fascinated with it ever since.
This Hoover Dam ashtray (circa late 1940’s / early 50’s) is made of cast metal with a copper finish and the front edge is embossed with both of the dam’s names (Hoover and Boulder). The flowing river below the dam (complete with embossed rippling design) serves as the ashtray and the side walls are decorated with embossed power lines representing the electrical power produced by the dam.
Facebook
Twitter
Press
Contact
Allee Willis
Excellent ashtray! Love that it’s made of metal and has a copper finish to boot.
I never knew that Hoover Dam and Boulder Dam were the same dam. Having never been to any of these kinds of landmark locations and never being especially great at geography that doesn’t surprise me. I love that the ashtray has both names on it. Was it originally named one and then change to the other?
The dam would make an excellent swimming pool, though nothing could ever exceed this one: https://www.alleewillis.com/awmok/kitschenette/2011/02/26/footprint/
k2dtw
Great post… Love the ashtray, wonderful detail. I love reading about your discovery!!!
denny
Michael, this is pretty amazing. I hadn’t collected tourist souvenirs (I had the occasional piece here and there) but since being part of awmok.com has changed that.
I love this ashtray, very sweet!
Michael Ely
Hey Denny. I know what you mean. I thought I collected everything until I joined AWMOK, and now almost everyday I see something new and fun to appreciate and admire, something I want to start collecting myself! I do have quite a collection of cast metal tourist souvenirs which I love (famous buildings and landmarks….I love anything in miniature) that I will share someday.
angelo
The ashtray is nice souvenir of something that is valuable in the history of United States. Hoover Dam is monument of the moder civil engineering and of all those people that build it and gave their lives for it!