
Building Diversion Tunnels
Clip: Season 11 | 2m 47s
The most dangerous phase of Hoover Dam's construction was building the diversion tunnels.
The most dangerous phase of Hoover Dam's construction was building the diversion tunnels, two on each side of the Colorado River. Blasting holes 56 feet in diameter, three-quarters of a mile through the canyon rock, the workers faced a huge engineering challenge along with strict time constraints. Chief Engineer Frank Crowe solved the problem by building a contraption called a drilling jumbo.
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Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Building Diversion Tunnels
Clip: Season 11 | 2m 47s
The most dangerous phase of Hoover Dam's construction was building the diversion tunnels, two on each side of the Colorado River. Blasting holes 56 feet in diameter, three-quarters of a mile through the canyon rock, the workers faced a huge engineering challenge along with strict time constraints. Chief Engineer Frank Crowe solved the problem by building a contraption called a drilling jumbo.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
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When is a photo an act of resistance?
For families that just decades earlier were torn apart by chattel slavery, being photographed together was proof of their resilience.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipWorkers moved the Colorado River from the bed it had known for 12 million years. (44s)
Hoover Dam: Moving the Concrete
On June 6, 1933, workers poured the first bucket of concrete that would build the dam. (2m 59s)
The High Scalers of Hoover Dam
During the dam's construction, the job of the high scaler was by far the most dangerous. (2m 33s)
The most dangerous phase of Hoover Dam's construction was building the diversion tunnels. (2m 47s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipCorporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.