Hoover Dam submerged a town in 1935; Lake Mead is revealing it again
Falling water levels in Lake Mead have revealed the remains of St. Thomas, a ghost town submerged by the construction of the Hoover Dam in the 1930s. The town, originally settled by Mormons in 1865, offers a rare glimpse into the history of early pioneers in the American West.
Why it matters
The reemergence of the town highlights the ongoing impact of climate change and drought on water infrastructure in the United States.
As Lake Mead's water levels continue to fall, numerous headlines are being made. Among them lies one about the reemergence of one of the country's ghost towns. St. Thomas, Nevada is visible again on the floor of the lake and visitors can once more walk along its former streets, lined with foundations and remnants of its old buildings. But how did an entire town disappear beneath 60 feet of water?A Mormon town lost to Hoover DamAccording to a report by Diario AS, St. Thomas was founded in 1865 by a group of Mormon settlers. They believed they had found a hugely valuable piece of ground near the Muddy River.
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