By Vicky Kaye

Hoover Dam, built between 1931 and 1935, was and continues to be the premier engineering marvel of the Southwest. During the height of the depression, several construction companies and thousands of people worked around the clock to bring the project to completion almost 2 years ahead of schedule. These workers came from all over the country looking for the opportunity of a steady paycheck. However, there was one unique "worker" who did his job and received no paycheck. He had no assigned housing, and no set time schedule. He came and went as he pleased, oversaw the project, and made the days of the workers more enjoyable. He was a little black dog who took his job of being the project mascot very seriously.

He was the runt of a litter born under one of the newly constructed dam offices in Boulder City. A coal black Labrador mix, he had a small swath of white across his chest and large feet he never quite grew into. He soon became a favorite of many of the men working at the dam who were far from their homes and friends. The pup began following the workers to the dam site and soon discovered that he loved to ride on things. Before long he could be seen riding the large employee transports, the government buses, the trains that delivered materials to the site, and even the skips up the front of the dam. The construction superintendent often gave him rides up out of the canyon in his big Buick, and once he even hitched a ride in a big black Cadillac. The dog sat in the front seat of the man's Cadillac, being chauffeured about, while the wife was relegated to the back seat. The dam workers watched as they drove by and were convinced that the pup was smiling at them. 

"He turned out to be nobody's dog and everybody's dog," reported Bob Parker a dam worker. "Down on the dam he'd come up to you and want you to pet him, take one or two pets, and off he'd go - on to the next worker down there. He'd climb ladders, he was in the tunnels, he was everywhere." One worker believed that, "Without a doubt he must have been a reincarnated construction stiff, maybe a superintendent . . . he just wanted us to get it done right." 

A minor crisis occurred when the dog became ill. It was found he would eat anything and everything that was given him, especially enjoying the ice cream cones from the Boulder Sweet Shop. A compromise was reached. Dam workers began to contribute money to the local commissary for the dog's meals. Soon he could be seen following the other workers to the dam site carrying his own specially packed lunch bag in his mouth. On arrival at the dam, he placed his bag with the rest of the crew's lunches, and off to "work" he'd go. At noon, he returned to his lunch sack and waited for one of the workers to unwrap his meal. With so many workers contributing to the dog's care he soon had his own bank account in Boulder. 

During construction, and for years thereafter, this dog worked at and protected the dam. A plaque above his grave today states, "On February 21, 1941, the life of this devoted animal came to an end when a truck under which he was sleeping rolled over him. The grave below was completed by workers later that same day." It was a very sad day at the dam and Boulder City as the word spread of what had happened. At the ripe old age of ten, it is possible this construction savvy dog could no longer hear the trucks as he once had. His grave, which was jackhammered into the solid rock cliff by his friends, now rests on the Nevada side of the dam, at the head of the escalators that lead to the new Visitor's Center and not far from the art deco winged sentries. 

One thing that cannot be found at this memorial is the name of this once loved and treasured mascot. It cannot be found at the gravesite, or in the museum display commemorating the dog's life. However, it can be found in a book entitled Building Hoover Dam: An Oral History of the Great Depression, and on the Internet. It appears this wonderful companion to the masses had a name that is not "politically correct." This dog, a friend to all workers, was named "Little Nig." For years, the original plaque over his grave displayed his name. However, in the late 1970's, a tourist read the plaque during a visit, found it offensive, and considered the name a racial slur. He made it his mission to have the name removed from the dam. His involvement extended to all parts of the country, many political groups, and eventually to the halls of Congress. In the end, officials of the Department of Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation removed the plaque with no intention of replacing it. 

Despite this conflict, Boulder City residents, friends, and co-workers of the dog had not forgotten their companion after the passage of so many years. They took up the cause and petitioned the Bureau to at least replace the plaque so he would not be forgotten. A new one was incorporated into the cliff wall above the grave where the old one once rested telling the dog's story in a few brief passages. His name is now missing, but his memory lives on. 

The Hoover Dam dog grave may be seen without paying for a tour. However, most museum displays and the trip to see the dam turbines require a ticket. Tickets are now $10.00 per adult and parking in the new garage is $5.00 per vehicle. The price may seem excessive, but that depends upon the visitor. The tour takes about 40 minutes, but much more time can be spent on museum displays and walking the various areas that are open to all. There is free parking up high on the Arizona side, but be prepared for a lot of walking. Much of what was open to the public (special "hard-hat" tours) is now closed due to 9/11, and security is tight with checkpoints on both sides of the dam and security personnel everywhere. 

(Vicky Kaye is a member of the Prescott Corral of Westerners and the Sharlot Hall Museum. She also volunteers at the Museum. 

Our readers' thoughts... 

It is wonderful to read this story after seeing the plaque back in 2001. I feel the name should have been left there because it didn't pose a racial slur to anyone. It was the dogs name and from all accounts everyone loved this dog. I too have a black lab that came into my life after someone abandoned him and he is the best thing that ever happened to me. Not one person on earth could ever give me as much love and comfort as this wonderful friend of mine. Thank you for sharing this article with everyone and hopefully someday Little Nig's name will be restored to his last place of rest. 

Roland Sheskey
February 21, 2008


It is very sad that this person felt it important to have the dogs name removed from his grave. It is folk like that that do more harm to human rights than they realize. It was not a slur, it was the dogs name. Please get a life, there are many more important this to life. 

John White England
October 3, 2010

Give him his deserved name back! Nobody had a problem with it back then. WHY NOW? I thought we evolved from that crap! Let the puppy lie in peace with his God given name.Lover of animals and PITBULLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Sam Allen
October 4, 2010

Please return that dog's name where it belongs...it's all part of the history of the dam and the men that loved that animal....one person having a problem with the name has to be an idiot. 

NHBuck
December 20, 2010

I was born and raised in las Vegas and went on field trips almost every year to the dam. I fondly remember the plaque that was always pointed out with the word nig on it. I am truly embarrassed as a white male about the oppression the African american population has endured. I feel part of history because I know this story. I hope I live to see the day when the original plaque can be displayed somewhere and we can all recall racism as ancient history. Perhaps displaying the old plaque in a museum would promote the ongoing healing of our country in this regard, promoting positive conversation about the demise of racism. Let's not forget these amazing men referred to him as nig with unquestioned adoration 

Greg Hair
March 20, 2010


Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number:(courtesy Boulder City Museum and Historical Association) Reuse only by permission.
This Black Labrador Mix, who was the mascot of Hoover Dam, almost disappeared into history because of his name. The collar that he is wearing was leather with silver studs. Unfortunately, the collar was stolen from him.