National Park Service Barge

A National Park Service barge is being launched at Boulder City boat landing. Businesses quickly saw the potential for recreation on the new lake and offered a variety of tours. Emery's "Red Boats" and "Cashman's Scenic Cruises" were both popular attractions.

Photographer: Unknown
Date: April, 1936

LAKE 1004

Small crowd of people on docks with two small buildings at the end.

Buzz Holmstrom in Rowboat

Buzz Holmstrom rows the boat he navigated on a solo trip from Green River, Wyoming to Lake Mead. This photograph was taken at Hemenway Wash.

Photographer: Unknown
Date: November 25, 1937

LAKE 1126

A man in a hat rows a boat on a lake with mountains in the background.

Buzz Holmstrom in Rowboat

Buzz Holmstrom poses at Hemenway Wash wearing his life jacket in the rowboat that he navigated from Green River, Wyoming to Lake Mead. He built his own boats to run whitewater rivers.

Photographer: Unknown
Date: November 25, 1937

LAKE 1128

A man in a hat rows a boat on a lake.

Fishing for Bass

From the time it was created by the building of Hoover Dam, fishing was very popular at Lake Mead. Here, a group of men proudly hold up strings of largemouth bass caught in the lake.

Photographer: Unknown
Date: April 1938

LAKE 1384

Four men standing next to each other and holding strings of large fish.

Boulder Dam Tours

With the construction of Hoover Dam, entrepreneurs quickly realized the potential for tourist-oriented businesses. Boulder Dam Tours offered passenger boat tours on the vessel "Hualapai" in Hidden Canyon.

Photographer: Unknown
Date: Date Unknown

LAKE 1498

Boat with people on it in cove with steep rock walls.

Swimming at Boulder Beach

Boulder Beach was just a short drive from Las Vegas and made a perfect destination for families interested in a day of water-oriented recreation such as swimming. The park built a number of facilities at the beach to improve the visitor experience.

Photographer: Unknown
Date: September, 1938

LAKE 1724

People swim around and sit on a small floating dock on a lake.

Swimming Lake Mead Lodge

The Lake Mead Lodge, the first hotel on Lake Mead, became a popular place to stay after WWII for locals, tourists and celebrities. The lodge provided entertainment and facilities such as this swimming pool, along with scenic views of Boulder Basin.

Photographer: Tidwell-Wells
Date: August, 1957

LAKE 2371

Four women lounge by pool in front of building while two people swim.

Fred McMurray Fishing

Actor Fred McMurray holds a large fish he caught while enjoying a day on the lake with friends. The lake was a popular getaway for celebrities due to its proximity to Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

Photographer: Bureau of Reclamation
Date: March, 1940

LAKE 2684

Five men fishing in a boat, actor, Fred McMurray at center holding up a fish.a

"Chuck Line"

A "Chuck Line" Rotary barbecue on the shore of Lake Mead.

Photographer: Harry Allwine
Date: April 15, 1940

LAKE 2702

Crowds of people wait in a line in a dirt parking lot next to a lake.

Bert Long Fishing

National Park Service Junior Naturalist, Bert Long, proudly holds a Colorado pikeminnow that is 25.5 inches long.

Photographer: Harry Allwine
Date: April 22, 1940

LAKE 2705

Man in park service uniform holds up a fish with both hands.

Cottonwood Cove

The sandy beaches and secluded coves that were only accessible by boat at Cottonwood Cove made it a popular place to launch boats for visitors.

Photographer: O.W. Wallis
Date: 1956

LAKE 3187

Man in truck with camper shell launches boat, rolling desert hills in background.

Fish Caught

The new lake created by the construction of the dam made a great fish habitat. Bass were introduced in 1935 and thrived. These fish were caught in the upper Virgin Basin.

Photographer: Unknown
Date: April 1941

LAKE 3558

Two people whose heads you can't see stand holding string of fish on a rope.

Guy D. Edwards

Guy D. Edwards has a 7 3/4-pound largemouth bass on his stringer. Bass were introduced in the park in 1935 and have been a popular sport fish ever since. The population is managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife who operate the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery.

Photographer: Unknown
Date: June 1, 1941

LAKE 3700

Man holds up a single fish on a rope.

Picnic Group

A family of four enjoys a roadside picnic on a blanket in the Newberry Mountains in Nevada. The Newberry Mountains are located in the southwest portion of the park.

Photographer: O.W. Wallis
Date: April 17, 1955

LAKE 4022

Four people picnicking on a blanket in foreground with small mountain and several cars in the background.

Grand Canyon Swimmers

Grand Canyon swimmers, John Daggett and William Beer, pose wearing their life vests at Pearce Ferry. They later wrote a book about their journey which has never been equaled or duplicated.

Photographer: Squire
Date: May 5, 1955

LAKE 4023

Two men stand beside several bags with hands on hips wearing life vests next to a lake with mountains behind them.

Rae Kenny

Rae Kenny, a lifeguard at Boulder Beach, poses on the life guard station platform. The lake has always been unpredictable and at times presented treacherous conditions for swimmers.

Photographer: J.M. Good
Date: September 13, 1955

LAKE 4167

Woman in swimsuit sits on life guard stand overlooking a lake.

Gordon C. Baldwin

Gordon C. Baldwin walks with a rainbow trout he's caught from the Colorado River at Aztec Wash.

Photographer: Bill Russell
Date: April 29, 1944

LAKE 4222

Man holds up a fish in one hand and a fishing pole in another.

String of Bass

As the reservoir filled, local fishermen and tourists flocked to the lake to fish. Three anglers display the large number of bass they caught at Lake Mead.

Photographer: George Grant
Date: June 10, 1945

LAKE 4223

Three men hold up string of dozens of fish on a rope.

Fishing on Lake Mead

The popularity of fishing at Lake Mead soon put pressure on fish populations and the park service realized that they would have to manage them for sustainability.

Photographer: Bill Russell
Date: June 1946

LAKE 4448

Six men pose for photo on a boat holding many fish on a line.

Rainbow Trout

A visitor enjoys showing the rainbow trout she caught at Willow Beach. Rainbow trout thrived in the cold water released below Hoover Dam.

Photographer: Bill Russell
Date: May 13, 1946

LAKE 4462

Woman squats down next to lake with two fish on a rope in her hands.

Crowds at Hemenway Harbor

A family prepares for a day on the lake at Hemenway Harbor. Hemenway was a popular destination due to its proximity to town and was often congested as can be seen here by the number of cars in the parking lot.

Photographer: J.M. Good
Date: April 9, 1955

LAKE 4472

People stand on a dock with several boats tied up to it and many cars parked behind it.

Boating on Lake Mead

Some days, conditions made for glass-smooth water and a perfect day for boating on Lake Mead.

Photographer: Unknown
Date: August, 1946

LAKE 4499

Large white boat is reflected in the water, five passengers at rear of boat.

Catch at Overton Dock

Three proud fishermen hold up their stringer of fish caught at Overton Dock.

Photographer: L. J. Mitchell
Date: September 1, 1955

LAKE 4562

Three men stand holding a string of dozens of fish.

Camping at Boulder Beach

Mr. and Mrs. John Hamuller enjoy a camping trip at Boulder Beach.

Photographer: O.W. Wallis
Date: April 7, 1954

LAKE 4801

Man and woman sit on picnic table in a campsite with a tent and shade umbrella.

Camping at Boulder Beach

Mr. and Mrs. John Hamuller cook a meal while camping at Boulder Beach.

Photographer: O.W. Wallis
Date: April 7, 1954

LAKE 4804

Man and woman stand by barbeque grill in a campsite with a tent, shade umbrella, and picnic table.

RV Camping

The Boulder Beach Campground offered facilities for trailers and RV camping at Lake Mead.

Photographer: R.K. Grater

LAKE 4805

Camp trailers lined up beside the edge of a lake.

Residences

These residences (upper row) and cabins (lower row) were constructed for guests at Eldorado Canyon.

Photographer: Ward W. Yeager
Date: March 1954

LAKE 4886

Small cabins and a few cars lined up in front of the bottom of a small cliff.

Publicity for Clark County Gem Collectors

Models pose for a publicity shot for Clark County Gem Collectors at Boulder Basin.

Photographer: R.K. Grater
Date: June 12, 1950

LAKE 5283

Two women in swimsuits stand holding rocks, one with a bag on her shoulder and another with a hammer.

Camping party at Boulder Beach

The park built a number of campgrounds in the park for recreation. The campground at Boulder Beach was a favorite for many families such as this one.

Photographer: Russell K. Grater
Date: August 28, 1952

LAKE 5625

Woman sits at a picnic table in front of a tent with two children nearby.

Boulder Beach

Picnic shelters and facilities such as these at Boulder Beach provided opportunities for families to spend the day at the park and enjoy cooking in the outdoors together.

Photographer: Chan T. Howell
Date: March 29, 1953

LAKE 5649

Group of people stand next to barbeque at a picnic area.

Las Vegas Wash

Las Vegas Wash is the primary channel that drains the Las Vegas valley's excess water and terminates at Las Vegas Bay. The wash once featured wetlands that would naturally filter the water.

Photographer: Chan Howell
Date: July 5, 1953

LAKE 5689

Many parked cars and crowds of people on a beach by a lake, large bushes in foreground.

Las Vegas Wash

Prior to the current drought conditions which caused the lake level to drop, Las Vegas Bay (where the Las Vegas Wash empties into the lake) was once a heavily visited marina.

Photographer: Chan Howell
Date: July 5, 1953

LAKE 5690

Many parked cars and crowds of people on a beach by a lake.

Concessioner at Boulder Beach

Visitors enjoy refreshments at the Boulder Beach concessions.

Photographer: Ted Whitmoyer
Date: 1962

LAKE 6418

Woman sits at a picnic table with her feet up on the bench in front of a snack trailer.

Campers at Boulder Campground

Campers set up their kitchen while camping at Boulder Beach Campground.

Photographer: Ted Whitmoyer
Date: 1962

LAKE 6485

Four people sit and stand around a portable stove on a picnic table.

Pit Area

As the largest reservoir in the Southwest, Lake Mead provided open space for special boating events. Shown here is the pit area for the Lake Mead Cup at Boulder Beach.

Photographer: Unknown
Date: 1959

LAKE BB140

Many boats and small crowd of people near a lake.

Gene Segerbloom

Gene Segerblom proudly holds up her catch of bass at Lake Mead. Segerblom was a teacher in Boulder City and she and her family were very involved in local politics.

Photographer: Cliff Segerbloom
Date: Date Unknown

LAKE segerbloom

Woman stands holding a string of fish on a rope.

Supervisory Lifeguard

Supervisory lifeguard Ruth Heard at Boulder Beach.

Photographer: Good
Date: June 11, 1955

LAKE 172

Woman sits on covered lifeguard stand as she looks at a large body of water while two people float on a dock with mountains in the distance.

Sky Scouts Vacationing

Sky Scouts vacationing in the Grand Canyon near Quartermaster Canyon.

Photographer: Unknown
Date: July 1938

LAKE 1623

A boat sits in a body of water as a group of boys and men stand next to it within rock formations and plants.

Lifeguard at Las Vegas Bay

Lifeguard at Las Vegas Bay.

Photographer: Welles and companion Tidwell
Date: August, 1957

LAKE 2321

Woman sits on covered lifeguard stand as she looks at a large body of water and distant mountains.

Picnic at Boulder Beach

Picnic at Boulder Beach.

Photographer: C. T. Howell
Date: March 29, 1953

LAKE 5650

A woman roasts hot dog on stick at a brick barbeque, two children and three adults with her.

Hikers on Mt. Wilson

Hikers resting at top of Mt. Wilson (Verne Bertsch, Walt Sutherland, Joe Keefe).

Photographer: Ingham
Date: November 1, 1960

LAKE 6162

Two men sit on rocky desert landscape, another laying down with back to camera.

Water Safety Lesson

Park ranger and lifeguard talking water safety to young swimmers at Boulder Beach.

Photographer: Doug Evans
Date: 1971

LAKE 8525

Uniformed Park Ranger and Lifeguard talking to young swimmers on the sand at the beach.

Tommy Trout Teaching Water Safety

Tommy Trout teaching water safety at Boulder City Park - Boulder City Damboree.

Photographer: Unknown
Date: July 4, 1976

LAKE 8648

Tommy Trout puppet-like mascot sitting down in grass as he entertains small children.
Small crowd of people on docks with two small buildings at the end.
A man in a hat rows a boat on a lake with mountains in the background.
A man in a hat rows a boat on a lake.
Four men standing next to each other and holding strings of large fish.
Boat with people on it in cove with steep rock walls.
People swim around and sit on a small floating dock on a lake.
Four women lounge by pool in front of building while two people swim.
Five men fishing in a boat, actor, Fred McMurray at center holding up a fish.a
Crowds of people wait in a line in a dirt parking lot next to a lake.
Man in park service uniform holds up a fish with both hands.
Man in truck with camper shell launches boat, rolling desert hills in background.
Two people whose heads you can't see stand holding string of fish on a rope.
Man holds up a single fish on a rope.
Four people picnicking on a blanket in foreground with small mountain and several cars in the background.
Two men stand beside several bags with hands on hips wearing life vests next to a lake with mountains behind them.
Woman in swimsuit sits on life guard stand overlooking a lake.
Man holds up a fish in one hand and a fishing pole in another.
Three men hold up string of dozens of fish on a rope.
Six men pose for photo on a boat holding many fish on a line.
Woman squats down next to lake with two fish on a rope in her hands.
People stand on a dock with several boats tied up to it and many cars parked behind it.
Large white boat is reflected in the water, five passengers at rear of boat.
Three men stand holding a string of dozens of fish.
Man and woman sit on picnic table in a campsite with a tent and shade umbrella.
Man and woman stand by barbeque grill in a campsite with a tent, shade umbrella, and picnic table.
Camp trailers lined up beside the edge of a lake.
Small cabins and a few cars lined up in front of the bottom of a small cliff.
Two women in swimsuits stand holding rocks, one with a bag on her shoulder and another with a hammer.
Woman sits at a picnic table in front of a tent with two children nearby.
Group of people stand next to barbeque at a picnic area.
Many parked cars and crowds of people on a beach by a lake, large bushes in foreground.
Many parked cars and crowds of people on a beach by a lake.
Woman sits at a picnic table with her feet up on the bench in front of a snack trailer.
Four people sit and stand around a portable stove on a picnic table.
Many boats and small crowd of people near a lake.
Woman stands holding a string of fish on a rope.
Woman sits on covered lifeguard stand as she looks at a large body of water while two people float on a dock with mountains in the distance.
A boat sits in a body of water as a group of boys and men stand next to it within rock formations and plants.
Woman sits on covered lifeguard stand as she looks at a large body of water and distant mountains.
A woman roasts hot dog on stick at a brick barbeque, two children and three adults with her.
Two men sit on rocky desert landscape, another laying down with back to camera.
Uniformed Park Ranger and Lifeguard talking to young swimmers on the sand at the beach.
Tommy Trout puppet-like mascot sitting down in grass as he entertains small children.