Materials depict the construction of Boulder City, Nevada and the Hoover (Boulder) Dam from 1930 to 1935. The photographs primarily depict construction of the master planned community of Boulder City, which was built to house workers during the construction of the dam. The photographs also depict construction of the dam, surveyors working in Black Canyon and on the Colorado River, and buildings in Boulder City. The photographs also depict Williamsville, the small settlement that preceded Boulder City.
Written on the front of the photo: "Old Calico City via Beacon Tavern, Barstow, Calif." A handwritten inscription found on the back reads: "Nearly a ghost town, but as you know, there are many mines still being worked on in these mountains."