Historic Preservation

Federal Jurisdiction

The city was created by the federal government in the early 1930’s to house the management and construction workers who built and later operated the dam, and the city remained under federal jurisdiction until 1959. Much information about the dam’s creation and the city’s history can be obtained through various media sources such as books, the internet and documentaries on cable television, as well as at the dam itself and the local Boulder City-Hoover Dam Museum.

National Register Nomination

In 1983, the Boulder City Historic District, consisting of several hundred homes and buildings, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A copy of the nomination to the National Register can be found on our Preservation Documents page.

Historic Preservation Ordinance

The City Council recently adopted an amendment to Title 11, Chapter 27 of the City Code that regulates development in the City's Historic District. Called the Historic Preservation Ordinance, it contains:

Certified Local Government Program

The Certified Local Government (CLG) Program is a preservation partnership between local, state and national governments focused on promoting historic preservation. The program is jointly administered by the National Park Service (NPS) and the State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO) in each state. Each community works through a certification process to become a CLG as well as providing a detailed annual report on preservation activities. Communities participating in the CLG program benefit from informational and financial resources. In addition to the benefits, being a CLG shows a community’s commitment to historic preservation efforts.  Boulder City became a CLG in August 2019. 

For more information on the CLG program, please visit Nevada SHPO

For information on Boulder City's Historic Preservation Commission, click here.