Boulder City lies about 23 miles to the southeast of Las Vegas, on US Route 93 just before it crosses the Hoover Dam into Arizona. The town was originally built in 1931 by contractors for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. It was the place designated for worker housing while they built the Hoover Dam. Rules for the town were no alcohol, no gambling, no prostitution and no unions. In 1958 the federal government gave up control over the city, and it was incorporated in 1960. Gambling and prostitution are still outlawed. In 1969, alcohol made a comeback. Boulder City covers 203 square miles, making it the largest city in Nevada by area. The population was about 15,000 people in the 2000 census. Boulder City has a number of small hotels (the maximum number of rooms allowed is 35), two municipal golf courses, lots of recreational facilities and trails for hiking and biking. Its proximity to Hoover Dam and Lake Mead make it a great base of operations for outdoors types. The local airport can accommodate general aviation, and air tours of the dam and the Grand Canyon are available. The Boulder Dam Hotel has a museum of the Hoover Dam.