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History of The Hoover Dam Trivia Quiz

An interesting look at the history of the Hoover Dam.

A multiple-choice quiz by aerynsun19. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
aerynsun19

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
137,482

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
12 / 20

Plays
670

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. Men were buried alive in the concrete of The Hoover Dam.

True

False

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Question 2 of 20

2. The Federal Bureau of Reclamation signed a contract for the construction of the Hoover Dam in the sum of approximately ____? Hint

$50 Million

$1 Million

$600,000

$10 Million

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Question 3 of 20

3. Who was the President of the United States when construction of the Hoover Dam began? Hint

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Herbert Hoover

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Calvin Coolidge

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Question 4 of 20

4. The name of the dam changed several times. What was its official name on the day of its completion?

Answer: (Two words)

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Question 5 of 20

5. The Hoover Dam was constructed in Boulder Canyon.

True

False

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Question 6 of 20

6. Officially, how many men were killed during the construction of the Hoover Dam? Hint

132

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Question 7 of 20

7. How long did it take to fill the reservoir to optimal capacity after the last diversion tunnel was sealed? Hint

19 years

2 years

5 years

10 years

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Question 8 of 20

8. There is a small tomb located near the dam. What is it a memorial to? Hint

The last person who died

The jobsite mascot

The first person who died

Wildlife destroyed during construction

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Question 9 of 20

9. Which is NOT true about Boulder City? Hint

Anyone could move there

It sprang up in a few short weeks

It was run by the Government

It had a movie theater, store, but no bars

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Question 10 of 20

10. In what year in the Great Depression did unemployment in the U.S. peak? Hint

1933

1936

1931

1939

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Question 11 of 20

11. The construction of the Hoover Dam created 5,500 ______? Hint

Acres of new farmland

Homes

Jobs

Kilowatts of power

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Question 12 of 20

12. Lake _____ is the name of the lake/reservoir formed behind the Hoover Dam.

Answer: (One Words)

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Question 13 of 20

13. Most of the memorials, plaques and statues all around the Hoover Dam were designed and made by Oskar Hansen.

True

False

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Question 14 of 20

14. How many generators are in the powerhouses at Hoover Dam? Hint

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Question 15 of 20

15. What were the men who worked the concrete to remove air pockets called? Hint

Squishers

Mudmen

Settlers

Puddlers

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Question 16 of 20

16. What nickname did the crew give the men who scaled the 1,000 foot cliffs planting dynamite charges?

Answer: (two words)

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Question 17 of 20

17. When was the last bucket of concrete poured in Hoover Dam? Hint

June 6th, 1933

May 29th, 1935

November 13th, 1932

February 1st, 1941

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Question 18 of 20

18. What is the name of the city that was built and run by the U.S. Government for the workers of Hoover Dam?

Answer: (Two Words)

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Question 19 of 20

19. How many years was the flow of the Colorado River diverted in order to build the Hoover Dam? Hint

1 year

5 years

2 Years

6 months

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Question 20 of 20

20. What was the main reason the Government wanted to build a dam on the Colorado river? Hint

To spend a surplus of money.

To supply power.

To control flooding.

To irrigate lands.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Men were buried alive in the concrete of The Hoover Dam.

Answer: False

Although many men died during the construction work, none was buried in the concrete.

2. The Federal Bureau of Reclamation signed a contract for the construction of the Hoover Dam in the sum of approximately ____?

Answer: $50 Million

The contract, allowing for the construction of the Hoover Dam, was awarded to 6 companies on March 11th, 1931. The actual winning bid was $48,890,995.

3. Who was the President of the United States when construction of the Hoover Dam began?

Answer: Herbert Hoover

Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States, was preceeded by Calvin Coolidge and followed by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

4. The name of the dam changed several times. What was its official name on the day of its completion?

Answer: Boulder Dam

The Hoover dam started out being named "Boulder Dam". When Herbert Hoover became President, he changed the name in 1930 to "Hoover Dam". Then when Roosevelt became President, the name was changed back to "Boulder Dam" until 1947 when President Truman permanently renamed it "Hoover Dam".

5. The Hoover Dam was constructed in Boulder Canyon.

Answer: False

It was actually constructed in Black Canyon - 20 miles south of the original site which would have been in Boulder Canyon. The Dam is located about 30 miles Southeast of Las Vegas.

6. Officially, how many men were killed during the construction of the Hoover Dam?

Answer: 96

There is a plaque at the visitors' center dedicated to the men who died during the construction.

7. How long did it take to fill the reservoir to optimal capacity after the last diversion tunnel was sealed?

Answer: 2 years

Lake Mead stores 9.2 trillion gallons of water. That's 28.5 million acre-feet. (An acre-foot of water would cover a football field to the depth of 1 foot).

8. There is a small tomb located near the dam. What is it a memorial to?

Answer: The jobsite mascot

The mascot was a black puppy that kept the guys company. He died when he was run over by one of the trucks on the site.

9. Which is NOT true about Boulder City?

Answer: Anyone could move there

The town housed Government and contracted employees. Anyone wanting to even get in had to be registered with the 6 companies and have a passcard. They had a check point entry with armed guards and the town was fenced in.

10. In what year in the Great Depression did unemployment in the U.S. peak?

Answer: 1933

During the Great Depression (1930-40) unemployment in U.S. averaged about 18%. In 1933 it reached a temporary peak of just under 25%. In the early 1930s unemployment rose sharply and President Hoover saw that the construction of the dam would bring jobs to some of those out of work.

11. The construction of the Hoover Dam created 5,500 ______?

Answer: Jobs

People flocked from around the country hoping to get in on the work. Many of them signed up under numerous assumed names to increase their chances of getting work.

12. Lake _____ is the name of the lake/reservoir formed behind the Hoover Dam.

Answer: Mead

Lake Mead stretches 110 miles upstream with over 550 miles of shoreline and contains the largest year round recreational area in the country. Its maximum depth is 590 feet. It was named after Reclamation Comissioner Dr. Elwood Mead.

13. Most of the memorials, plaques and statues all around the Hoover Dam were designed and made by Oskar Hansen.

Answer: True

Some of the most interesting artwork I have seen.

14. How many generators are in the powerhouses at Hoover Dam?

Answer: 17

The average annual net generation for the power plant is approximately 4 billion kw hours. The maximum was in 1984 with 10,348,020,500 kw hours, with the minimum in 1956 at 2,648,224,700 kw hours. (A kilowatt hour is equal to a unit of energy or work done by 1 kw of power working for 1 hour.)

15. What were the men who worked the concrete to remove air pockets called?

Answer: Puddlers

There was a rumor going about that men had been trapped in the concrete. It's false.

16. What nickname did the crew give the men who scaled the 1,000 foot cliffs planting dynamite charges?

Answer: High scalers

They were the highest paid men on the site. Making the top pay of $5.60 a day. There's a statue at the vistor's center depicting a High Scaler.

17. When was the last bucket of concrete poured in Hoover Dam?

Answer: May 29th, 1935

June 6th, 1933 - The FIRST bucket of concrete was poured. November 13th, 1932 - The Arizona side of diversion tunnels were opened allowing the water to be diverted for construction to begin. February 1st, 1945 - The last diversion tunnel was plugged allowing the water level to fill up behind the dam.

18. What is the name of the city that was built and run by the U.S. Government for the workers of Hoover Dam?

Answer: Boulder City

They built this city with everything the families would need. Stores, a movies theater (movies cost 10 cents)and Laundromat. But there were no bars, saloons, or houses of ill-repute. They also had their own police force... supplied by the military.

19. How many years was the flow of the Colorado River diverted in order to build the Hoover Dam?

Answer: 2 Years

On November 13th, 1932 the Arizona side of the diversion tunnels were opened to divert the flow of the river. Changing a flow that had run that course for over 12 million years. The last diversion tunnel was sealed on February 1st, 1945.

20. What was the main reason the Government wanted to build a dam on the Colorado river?

Answer: To control flooding.

All of the answers are true, but their primary reason was the intense need to control the flooding in and around the Colorado River basin.

Source: Author aerynsun19

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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