On Tuesday I went to the Hoover Dam, one of the world’s greatest engineering feats. The landscape surrounding the dam, coupled with the fact that it was about 110 degrees, made it seem like the place was on the verge of bursting into flames, with Satan himself showing up in an all-out hell scenario. Luckily that didn’t happen. So, we parked, which cost $7. The plan was to see the visitor center, then do a dam drive-by. I guess they figure terrorists are thinking about blowing up the dam, and I think it did happen in some movies, so upon entering we had to go through a courthouse-style security check. After this rigamarole, we learned that entry into the Hoover Dam visitor center is $8 per person. I made sure the unapologetic employees knew that taking $8 in exchange for entry into the visitor center devoted to a historic chunk of concrete is totally ridiculous, then left. Next, I took a photo of myself flipping off a sign pointing towards the Hoover Dam visitor center.Instead of learning about it’s art deco design, how many people died building the dam (112), or how this type of depression-era infrastructure-building helped quell the nation’s economic crisis, I went to the gift shop. There I found many lovely items for purchase, such as coonskin caps, patriotic birthday cards, patriotic wind chimes, patriotic shirts and many other patriotic things. I even got a free patriotic button with my patriotic postcard purchase. I’m sure the gift shop was more enjoyable than the visitor center anyway. And for $8 I’d rather own red, white and blue kitsch made in China than learn about our nation’s history. Thank you, U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, thanks!
Screw You, Hoover Dam!
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