Fireworks explode over Hoover Dam on June 17, 2002, as part of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's 100th anniversary. Lasers were used to project images on the dam's face during the celebration, a rare feat that will be repeated March 16 during an invitation-only event for the 75th anniversary of Boulder City. Photo by K.M. Cannon. This logo from the creators of Las Vegas' "What happens here, stays here" campaign will be projected onto Hoover Dam using lasers as part of Boulder City's 75th anniversary celebration.

A laser light show will be projected onto the face of Hoover Dam for just the second time ever, as Boulder City marks its 75th anniversary with activities beginning Friday through March 19.

Unfortunately, organizers said, the light show will be off limits to all but a few dozen invited guests, media representatives and passing motorists, since the dam is closed to tourists at night.

"It's going to be difficult for too many people to participate in this, because of parking and safety restrictions," said Bob Walsh, spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

The agency is not directly involved in the 75th anniversary celebration but operates the dam and provides for its security.

The laser show is set to take place at 6:30 p.m. March 16. Former dam worker Lee Tilman, who first arrived in Boulder City in August 1931, is scheduled to say a few words and then throw the switch to start the show.

"Nobody's anymore amazed about that than I am," said Tilman, who turns 93 next month. "As far as I know, I'm the oldest guy around who worked at the dam."

The only other time lasers have been used to project images on the face of the dam was in June 2002, when the bureau marked its 100th anniversary.

The rest of Boulder City's 75th birthday is expected to be more user-friendly. Events this weekend and next include an art show, historic film screening, Chautauqua theater presentation, walking tours, and barrel races at the Boulder City corrals.

A concert at the city's historic Grace Community Church at 3 p.m. on March 19 will cap the festivities.

March 16 has been picked as the official anniversary date, which is as good a day as any, said Dennis McBride, curator of the Boulder City Museum and Historical Association.

"That was the day a crew came out from Las Vegas and started digging holes," he said. "There's a lot of dates you can choose, and that's the one they chose."

Though it was only about five months old at the time, Boulder City looked like it was off to "a pretty good start" when Tilman arrived there in August 1931 to look for work, he said.

There was no air conditioning, he said, and "it was hotter than hell."

Officials and business leaders now hope to see Boulder City become as much of a draw to tourists as it once was to Depression-era laborers.

The 75th anniversary celebration is just part of that effort, which involves the city's tourism commission, chamber of commerce, and arts council.

With the help of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority, which picked up about half the tab, the city recently unveiled a new logo and marketing campaign designed to lure day trippers from the Las Vegas Valley.

The $100,000 branding effort was designed by R&R Partners, the company behind Las Vegas' famed "What happens here, stays here" campaign.

The logo R&R produced for Boulder City features an image of the dam and words "A world away for a day."

A special 75th anniversary version of the logo will be projected onto the actual dam during the March 16 laser show.