They died to make the desert bloom. That’s what the memorial to the Hoover Dam workers says. But right here beside it is a different kind of memorial. A smaller less grand but equally poignant tribute. This is the Hoover Dam Mascot Memorial Plaque.
This unassuming plaque tells the story of Nig a black Labrador mix. He wasn’t a human worker but he was a beloved member of the dam’s construction crew. He adopted the dam as his own.
Nig arrived as a pup. He roamed freely among the men. He rode in trucks. He chased cats through tunnels. He even had his own lunchbox. The commissary prepared his meals. The men shared their food with him. He was truly part of the team.
One February day in 1941 tragedy struck. Nig fell asleep under a truck. The driver unknowingly rolled over him. His death saddened everyone. Rough tough rock-hard men wept openly and unashamed.
The men honored their furry friend. They built him a concrete crypt. They installed a plaque. It simply read Nig The Dog That Adopted A Dam. For nearly 40 years the plaque remained untouched. Then controversy erupted. Someone deemed the name offensive. The plaque was removed.
Public outcry followed. Boulder City residents protested. They petitioned to reinstate the memorial. A new plaque appeared. It tells Nig’s story. It omits his name. Yet the workers ensured his name lives on. They etched Nig into the concrete itself.
Today as you stand before this memorial consider the bond between humans and animals. Reflect on the loyalty and love Nig showed the dam’s builders. His story is a reminder that friendship knows no bounds. No species. He may not have built the dam but he helped build the spirit of the community. The spirit that built Hoover Dam.