History
History of Las Vegas
Submitted by gambler on Sun, 2006-02-19 15:56.Las Vegas History: a proud past and a promising
future
The Las Vegas Valley has been home to Native Americans for thousands of
years. It was discovered by Spanish explorers in 1829 who were attracted
to the area because of the natural springs and meadows that existed
here. They called the valley Las Vegas, which is Spanish for "The
Meadows."
The first modern-era settlement was established by Mormon
missionaries in 1855, but the project was abandoned in 1858. This
original mission, known today as the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort, became a
haven for desert-worn travelers and trailblazers lured by the region’s
gold and silver.
