Hoover Dam Myth Debunked: The Truth Behind Entombed Workers
Unveiling Misconceptions: The Truth About Hoover Dam and Disappearing Workers
Posted on: May 2, 2025, 07:21h.
Last updated on: May 1, 2025, 09:35h.
Corey Levitan Read More
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The tale that the Hoover Dam, a marvel of modern engineering, houses the remains of unfortunate construction workers has persisted through the annals of popular culture. Yet, this legend remains rooted in fiction, far from the reality of the dam's creation.
During the tumultuous construction period spanning 1931-1936, the Hoover Dam tragically claimed several lives. However, contrary to the myth, no workers were left inside the dam's 4.4-million cubic feet of concrete.
The Hoover Dam Age of Doom
On Nov. 11, 1933, the wall of a form collapsed, entombing W.A. Jameson beneath hundreds of tons of wet concrete. Although Jameson's fellow employees labored tirelessly for 16 hours to exhume him, it wasn't solely an act of compassion for his loved ones.
There are several rational explanations as to why bodies weren't interred within the concrete. Firstly, the dam consists of multiple concrete slabs, with each taking hours to set, allowing ample time to recover any bodies during the construction process. Secondly, organic material, like a human body, would create air pockets within the concrete as it decomposed, potentially causing long-term structural damage[1].
Dam Myths Lead to Confusion
The myth of the entombed workers owes its longevity to the sheer magnitude of the Hoover Dam, which has loomed over Las Vegas for nearly a century, inspiring the public's imagination for decades.
"Hoover Dam was such a monumental engineering project shaping the region significantly, that it has sparked many people's imaginations for a long time," David Schwartz, Las Vegas historian and UNLV professor, told Casino.org.
Perhaps people have confused the Hoover Dam with Montana's Fort Peck Dam, where six of eight workers were interred following a catastrophic slide in 1938. Unlike the Hoover Dam, which consists of concrete slabs, earthen dams like Fort Peck are not compromised by decomposed bodies[1].
In contrast, nearby Lake Mead carries a grim secret. Two bodies were discovered on its exposed bottom in May, with one suspected to be a mob hit[2].
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[1] Rocha, G. (Former Nevada State Archivist).
[2] History Channel.
[3] Paris Catacombs.
- Despite popular belief, the Hoover Dam, known as Boulder Dam until 1947, does not contain the bodies of any workers who lost their lives during its construction.
- On November 11, 1933, W.A. Jameson was unfortunately trapped and buried under concrete during the Hoover Dam's construction, but not within its final structure.
- The Hoover Dam, a symbol of modern engineering, is built from multiple concrete slabs, providing ample opportunity to recover bodies during its construction process.
- Organic material like a human body would create air pockets within the concrete as it decomposed, potentially causing long-term structural damage.
- The myth of entombed workers persists due to the Hoover Dam's significance, inspiring public imagination for decades, but it seems likely that people may have confused it with Montana's Fort Peck Dam, where workers were actually buried.
- In contrast, nearby Lake Mead harbors a more chilling secret with two discovered bodies, one of which is suspected to be a mob hit.
- If you're curious about Las Vegas myths and want debunked myths revisited, visit VegasMythsBusted.com or send your suggestions to [email protected].