Boulder Dam Hotel

"The Boulder Dam Hotel has been part of Boulder City history since its opening in 1933. Designed by Mort Wagner the hotel was built by Paul Stewart "Jim" Webb, Raymond Spilsbury, and Austin Clark. It is located in Cardenas Plaza - known today as Hotel Plaza - one of Boulder City's three original downtown squares.

Expanded in 1934 and 1935, the hotel was acquired by Glover "Roxy" Ruckstell in 1936, and merged into his Grand Canyon - Boulder Dam Tours. This company also included Grand Canyon Airlines, Murk Emery's Lake Mead tour boat concession, exclusive operation of the Boulder City Airport, and was the sole tourist concessionaire in what became the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

During the 1930's and 1940's the hotel hosted the rich and famous. Guests included Bette Davis, Ronald Colman, Boris Karloff, Will Rogers, the Maharaja of Indore, Bank of America founder A. P. Gianini, and Howard Hughes. The hotel fell on hard times after World War II, closing and re-opening several times.

Except for a short period in 1969-73 when it served as a retirement home, the hotel has been an integral part of Boulder City."

(Queho Posse Chapter 1919 E Clampus Vitus)

Notable guests: Harold Ickes, Senator Robert Taft, Duchess of Westminster, Crown Prince Olav & Princess Martha of Norway, Leo Garcey, Shirley Temple, Minnie Kennedy, Pope Pius XII, George Putnam, Jim and Marian Jordan.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Listed on the Nevada State Register of Historical Places in 1982.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a U.S. Historic District Contributing Property (Boulder City Historic District: 1983).

Located in the Boulder City Historic District.

Located at 1305 Arizona Street, Boulder City, Nevada.

Further Readings (#CommissionsEarned): Boulder City: The Town that Built the Hoover Dam (Brief History) .