Hoover Dam Express Mail Stamp Part II Of II

In continuation to the post on Monday…

Lake Mead is the reservoir that is created behind the Dam. There are 8 to 10 million visitors who enjoy the lake and its surroundings each year. The Lake Mead National Recreation Area is the fifth busiest National Park in the United States.

Hoover Dam was named after Herbert Hoover, who was one of the key people who made sure that the dam was completed. Hoover began his quest prior to becoming president, but worked diligently on the project once he was in office. In 1932, Hoover lost his bid for re-election to Roosevelt. Much to many people’s dismay, Roosevelt’s new Secretary of
the Interior, Harold Ickes, decided to change the name of the dam to Boulder Dam. In 1945, Roosevelt died and Ickes retired. In 1947, California Congressman Jack Anderson introduced a bill that would change the name back to “Hoover Dam”. With almost unanimous support in the House and Senate, the original name was restored.

Here are some interesting facts about the Dam.

The concrete is still cooling some 73 years later. Hoover Dam became a National Historic Landmark in 1985. It was completed more 2 years ahead of schedule. There is enough concrete in the Dam to pave a two lane highway from New York to San Francisco. There are two lanes of traffic across the top of the Dam. Because of September 11th, a new bypass is being built to divert traffic away from the top of the Dam. It is expected to be completed in 2010. Currently about 13,000 to 16,000 people travel across the Dam each day. The bottom of the Dam has 660 feet of concrete.

Stamp Center has the Hoover Dam Express Mail Stamp available to purchase.