Las Vegas

Las Vegas was officially founded as a city on May 15, 1905, when 110 acres of land adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks were auctioned in what would become the downtown area. Early Las Vegas was a small railroad town serving ranchers and travelers. The city soon began to grow, thanks in part to its strategic location and the construction of the Hoover Dam in the 1930s.

On March 19, 1931, Nevada legalized gambling as a way to promote economic growth during the Great Depression. This decision laid the groundwork for Las Vegas to become a gaming and entertainment mecca. Legalized gambling and the construction of the Hoover Dam nearby provided a significant boost to the local economy and led to the development of the famous Las Vegas Strip.

The first atmospheric nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site occurred on April 22, 1951. The test site, located just 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, played a crucial role in the United States' nuclear weapons program during the Cold War. The tests brought international attention to Las Vegas, as they were visible from the city and became a bizarre tourist attraction in the 1950s.

The Riviera Hotel and Casino opened on April 18, 1955, and was one of the first high-rise hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. The opening of the Riviera marked the growth of luxurious themed resorts that would become synonymous with Las Vegas. Known for its entertainment, the hotel featured performances by legendary entertainers such as Liberace and Frank Sinatra.

Billionaire Howard Hughes arrived in Las Vegas on November 22, 1966, and checked into the Desert Inn. Hughes, fleeing tax issues and seeking privacy, was allowed to stay by purchasing the Desert Inn. This purchase launched a buying spree that dramatically changed the ownership landscape of Las Vegas casinos, marking the beginning of corporate ownership era in the Strip.

The Mirage, a casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip, opened on November 22, 1989. Developed by Steve Wynn, it was the first resort built with financing secured through Wall Street, and it kicked off a new era of luxurious mega-resorts in Las Vegas. The Mirage's success set a new standard for the city and inspired the development of many other iconic resorts on the Strip.

The Fremont Street Experience opened on October 1, 1992, revitalizing Downtown Las Vegas. This pedestrian mall and attraction in the heart of the city's historic gaming district offers nightly light shows and live entertainment. The project was developed to compete with the newer Strip resorts and has since become an iconic attraction, preserving the charm of old Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas 9/11 Tribute Monument, dedicated on November 6, 2001, honors the victims, survivors, and heroes of the September 11 terrorist attacks. This memorial, located at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve, features a piece of steel debris from the World Trade Center and is part of a broader community effort to remember and educate about the tragic events of 9/11.

On October 1, 2017, a gunman opened fire on the Route 91 Harvest music festival from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort, resulting in 58 deaths and over 850 injuries. It was the deadliest mass shooting committed by an individual in U.S. history. The tragedy prompted discussions on gun control policy and public safety measures, deeply affecting the Las Vegas community.

On March 17, 2020, the Las Vegas Strip shut down operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the first time the Strip ceased operations entirely since the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. The closure lasted several weeks, with casinos and hotels gradually reopening while implementing new health and safety measures.