A black and white image of people standing by the Boulder Dam Pier sign, which is draped with rattlesnakes. Note: Boulder Dam was officially renamed Hoover Dam in 1947.

A black and white image of a road with several makeshift homes in Ragtown, an area near the Hoover Dam construction site at Black Canyon, not far from Boulder City.

A black and white image of a woman and three children standing behind a food truck in Ragtown, an area near the Hoover Dam construction site at Black Canyon, not far from Boulder City. Two men appear to be distributing food from the bed of the truck.

A black and white image of a woman and three children standing next to a makeshift home in an area known as Ragtown near the Hoover Dam construction site at Black Canyon, not far from Boulder City.

A black and white image of the first grocery in an area known as Ragtown near the Hoover Dam construction site at Black Canyon, not far from Boulder City. Standing in front (from left to right) are W.F. Shields, Harry Buchanan (the chef), and Shields' wife. The sign above the store reads: "Free Information Bureau. Home farm products. Elevation here 2442 ft. Damsite 642 ft."

A black and white image of J.H. DeLeach (left) and R.R. Heusel in an area known as Ragtown near the Hoover Dam construction site at Black Canyon, not far from Boulder City.

A black and white image of people at the gate leading into Boulder City "where men are hired."