Of all places, The Hoover Dam has an interesting floor story. These beautiful art deco, Native American inspired medallions are on the balcony that overlooks this machinery! Designed by painter Alan Tupper True, from Denver Colorado, he also integrated the colors used in painting the turbine housings, overhead cranes, valves and even the door knobs! The patterns, borrowed from Southwestern Indian patterns, echo centrifugal themes, which relate to the turbines in the power plant. The Martina Brothers originally installed over 121 thousand square feet of terrazzo, including these medallions are still in business today! The estimated cost of the decorative flooring was originally $50,000 in the 1930’s. For more information on The Hoover Dam visit: www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam .
January 18th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
This was really interesting – who knew that this was at the Hoover Dam of all places!