Spring of 1869– Major John Wesley Powell makes the first recorded trip through the Grand Canyon and down the Colorado River. He returned in 1871, and conducted geological studies that helped to expand the knowledge of the region.
June 17th, 1902– President Theodore Roosevelt signs the Reclamation Act, which jolts the series of investigations and reports for possible uses of the Colorado River.
March, 1905– Unusually heavy rain overflows the Colorado River, and in turn ruins the irrigation system farmers created in an area deemed the Imperial Valley, creating an inland sea across a hundred and fifty square miles. It took two years, and more than $3 million to contain the river and return it to its original state.
May 18th,1920– Congress passes Kinkaid Act, authorizing the Secretary of Interior to investigate problems of the Imperial Valley Flooding.
February,1922– Arthur P. Davis, wrote a report under the Kinkaid Act entitled “Problems of Imperial Valley and Vicinity” and sent it to Congress, recommending construction of a high dam on the Colorado River or near Boulder Canyon. This would be smart because as he suggested, the government could earn back the money spent on construction by selling the electrical power produced to cities expanding, like those in Southern California.
December 21st, 1928– The Colorado River Board of California works with Senator Hiram Johnson and Representative Phil Swing, both of CA, to introduce the Boulder Canyon Project Act. It passes swiftly through House and Senate, and is signed by President Calvin Coolidge.
June 1929– Herbert Hoover takes charge of negotiations.
March 11th,1931– The Bureau of Reclamation opens bids for the construction of the Hoover Dam, and Six Companies is awarded the opportunity.
November 14th, 1932- The Colorado River is successfully diverted from the building site of the dam.
June 6th, 1933– Concrete is poured for the first time at the Dam site.
February 1st– Hoover Dam starts delivering water to Lake Mead.
May 29th, 1935– Last concrete was poured.
September 30th,1935– President Franklin D. Roosevelt attends and speaks at the dedication of the Boulder(Hoover) Dam.
March 4th, 1947– Official renaming of Boulder Dam to Hoover Dam. On April 30th President Harry Truman signs declaration of Hoover Dam’s new name.