BOULDER CITY – Hundreds of families descended upon Boulder City in 1931 looking for jobs and a piece of the American Dream. Boulder City was born out of a project to create one of the greatest engineering feats in history: Hoover Dam. We are a community that takes great pride in our history. And now, visitors and residents can see where some of that history is located, thanks to new signage in the Historic District.
The City hired LGA Architecture in 2022 to complete outreach in the business community to determine how additional wayfinding improvements can help local businesses. Visitors and residents were also interviewed. One of the Wayfinding study’s recommendations was to add Historic District banners in the downtown so residents and visitors will know when they are in our Historic District.
The City has updated and expanded signage and wayfinding systems within the downtown area and adjacent neighborhoods to facilitate additional tourism in the Historic Downtown Area of Boulder City. “We wanted the signage to match the historic charm and character of the downtown area, but integrate technology as appropriate, ” said acting City Manager Michael Mays. “The signage integrates colors that complement Hoover Dam and utilizes a font that harkens back to our early days.”
In 1983, the Boulder City Historic District, consisting of several hundred homes and businesses, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In more recent years, we have become a Certified Local Government (CLG) City (a preservation partnership between local, state and national governments to promote historic preservation), and passed an ordinance to better protect historic structures. And earlier this year, the National Park Service designated Boulder City & Henderson as an American World War II Heritage City. The program recognizes the contributions of communities and commemorates the stories of those who shaped the U.S. home front during World War II and still impact our country today. (Boulder City and Henderson were selected for their proximity to Hoover Dam, availability of hydroelectric power and water, and magnesium production. Only one American World War II Heritage City can be designated in each state or territory, but Boulder City and Henderson applied for the designation together in a unique collaboration.)
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