Atomic Liquors on East Fremont Street is a vibrant spot for craft cocktails, and Bob Taylors Ranch Houseis a western-themed, open-grill steakhouse filled with the tantalizing aroma of mesquite charcoal smoke. During this time, Las Vegas also became increasingly electrified, especially when monumental Hoover Dam was completed in 1936, converting the mighty Colorado Rivers flow into power. The 1990s were a decade of growth for Las Vegas. These bright lights came from the electricity generated by the Hoover Dam. What house did the Rat Pack rule? The 1930s were a booming time for Las Vegas. * Westgate Resorts is in no way affiliated with the attractions featured in this article. They were an instant hit with tourists and shaped the city's skyline into the Vegas we know and love today. Las Vegas is one of the most popular cities in the United States and has been for decades. From 1951 to 1962, the U.S. government conducted 100 tests in the area. At Westgate Resorts, when you Check-In, theres a LOT to Check-Out! This area was allowed to legally sell hard liquor and was However, the Tropicana, opened in 1957, is still booking rooms and dealing cards. (Elvis would arrive in full glory later, in 1969.) In 1955, a legendary hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip opened its doors. Today, Las Vegas is a thriving tourist destination, with over 40 million people visiting the city each year. And in the 1990s some of them started falling. What else remains of those exuberant family-themed days? Read more: https://www.westgateresorts.com/blog/things-to-do-las-vegas-this-weekend/. The city was incorporated in 1911, with Peter Buol serving as its first mayor. The first permanent settler was prospector Octavius Gass who renovated the abandoned fort; turning it into a ranch and way station for weary travellers. The Life Is Beautiful Music & Art Festival brings todays top acts to the blocks of Downtown Las Vegas, with recent headliners including Gorillaz, Green Day, Muse, Lorde, Wiz Khalifa and so many more. Get the latest on new films and digital content, learn about events in your area, and get your weekly fix of American history. If a city was a celebrity, it would be a mix of Marilyn Monroe, Lady Gaga, and Gary Busey: beautiful, larger than life, and slightly insane. At the same time, Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop were turning the city onto its head. While Las Vegas was growing and changing, so was the rest of the world. It also feels notable that the biggest night in music, aka the Grammys, is being held in Las Vegas for the first time ever at the MGM Grand Garden Arena this spring. Its all real. The 1990s also saw the rise of 'theme' hotels, which sought to immerse visitors in a particular experience. When the railroad shut down, so did the town. So sit back, put on your ten-gallon hat, and enjoy this trip down memory lane! The population would double again by 1920. Likewise, it felt pointed when the singer chose to perform what shouldve been her triumphant return to the top, Smiles single Never Really Over, on SNL to promote her Vegas show, given that the ever-expanding musical hub has granted Perry a chance at renewal. 45 Things to Do in Las Vegas This Weekend. It was a dry city with strict laws prohibiting gambling and alcohol. Gondolas, pyramids, dancing fountains, and roller coasters built on top of a 277 metre tower. Spurred by the development of McWilliams' competing town site, Clark embarked on an aggressive campaign to lure prospective buyers to the area, promising those who bought land in the auctions a full refund on their $16 train fare. For Adele, whos long expressed her resentment toward the fast-paced, oversaturated music market, her residency reads like a tactic to differentiate herself from the current slate of pop singers and melodic rappers whove achieved her level of dominance in a much quicker span thanks to algorithms and hit-making platforms like TikTok. One of these was Octavius Gass, a businessman and politician tasked with occupying the abandoned fort. Fever Pitch Since then, scores of Elvis impersonators have performed at venues throughout Las Vegas, including as licensed ministers at wedding chapels and as Flying Elvi parachuting from planes. By the end of the day, the going price for some of the lots had reached twice their initial value. Many of the dam workers would sneak into Las Vegas on their days off to partake in the vice-filled activities forbidden in Boulder City. Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, Hawaii asks Maui visitors to postpone travel plans, The best road trips in Chile offer the drive of your life, How to explore Florida by car, train and water taxi, 9 places you have to visit in South Africa, 8 of the best places to visit in Singapore, Toulouse: a first timer's guide to the pink city, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The mob skimmed revenue from local casinos until the FBI cracked down on its racketeering operations in the early 1980s and, for all intent and purposes, eradicated organized crimes influence from local resorts. Of course, one of the reasons that Las Vegas is so famous is because of the luxurious casinos. Its easy to envision artists like Kacey Musgraves, who looked extremely out of place at last years very Gen-Z VMAs, or Lana Del Rey, who courts older millennial listeners, eventually wanting to make these distinctions. In the early 1930s, the Boulder, now Hoover, Dam was built in Southern Nevada to help bring the nation out of the Great Depression by providing hundreds of jobs for engineers and able-bodied laborers. The Army's presence brought much-needed stability to the area, and more settlers began trickling in. Sands patrons paid $5.95 per person to see the booze-swilling quintet perform and that included two drinks and dinner. In addition, much more of the regions history is on display at the impressive Nevada State Museum near Downtown Las Vegas. Las Vegas was founded in 1905 and began to experience rapid population and economic growth in the 1940s. As a teenager, he hooked up with fellow thug Meyer Lansky, who would go on to become a major figure in American organized crime. The festival also draws international street artists, transforming the DTLV neighborhood into a walking mural art museum. His residency there drew massive crowds and showcased his talents to new audiences. In a similar vein, these modern residencies have given musicians with a certain amount of longevity and credibility a chance to pay tribute to themselves amid an increasingly narrow number of opportunities to do so on a large scale. In the late 1950s, shows at the casino became more lavish. Stockyards brimming with livestock brought hordes of flies. In 1902, the railroad arrived. Mystereopened in 1993 in a theater at Treasure Island built to the productions specifications. The concert hall also hosts Broadway Las Vegasthe musical for the 20222023 season will be Hamilton. In 1963, the United States and Soviet Union signed a treaty that required the superpowers to conduct all nuclear experiments underground. The city is home to numerous museums, galleries, and theaters, and hosts a variety of festivals and events throughout the year. Gass was also instrumental in constructing the Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad, which ran through Las Vegas and connected it to the rest of the country. 10 Things Your Maintenance Fees Cover You Never Knew! document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()). What happened in Vegas: A history tour of Sin City Few cities capture the imagination like Las Vegas. Specifically, William Bringhurst and 30 Mormon missionaries settled in present-day Downtown Las Vegas in 1855. The railroad brought even more people and business to Las Vegas, solidifying its status as a burgeoning town. Las Vegas was transformed into a tourist destination by developers such as Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky. LAS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU / UNLV SPECIAL COLLECTIONS. In addition to its casinos, Las Vegas also offers some of the best entertainment in the world. Since most of these newcomers were single working men, the city became known for its many brothels and gambling establishments. Whether youre going to Vegas alone or with family, knowing the city's history will help you appreciate all that it has to offer. WebLas Vegas, which was officially founded on May 15, 1905, was incorporated on March 16, 1911, two years after it had been named the county seat. The Rat Pack often performed in the city's showrooms, along with other prime acts like Barbra Streisand and Dean Martin. The Spanish Trader Antonio He would perform more than 30,000 shows in his new hometown over the next decades. The production would run for 50 years, closing in 2009. 1864 to 1931. Chances are they had been directed there by Paiute or Ute peoples. In negotiating his purchase from Helen Stewart, Clark had bought all water rights for the area. Send it to The Daily Beasthere. All of those are accurate descriptors for America's most famous city, but they only scratch the surface. Whether youre a first-time visitor or a seasoned gambler, a trip to Las Vegas is a journey back in time to one of the most fascinating cities in the world. Your email address will not be published. In the late 1960s, Hughes acquired major casinos, including the Desert Inn, Frontier and Sands, as tax shelters to offset the windfall he had received for selling a major airline. Las Vegas is steeped in history, and there's much more to it than just casinos and showgirls. The city began to expand, and by the mid-20th century, it had become a major gambling hub, with the opening of the Las Vegas Strip in the 1950s. (Enter your ZIP code for information on American Experience events and screening in your area.). SenatorWilliam Clarkof Montana bought the rights to the former Mormon settlement from Helen Stewart. They also helped pioneer the desegregation of the city's hotels and casinos. When was the first casino in Las Vegas opened? Toll-Free: 877-847-4858. In the post-war years, Las Vegas continued to grow as more and more people flocked to the city to take advantage of its liberal gambling laws. Well, thats Vegas for you! But when he returned to the International (later Las Vegas Hilton) on July 26, 1969, he was a smash hit. Today, Cirque has several shows playing in Vegas on a permanent basis, including shows in partnership with The Beatles and the Michael Jackson estate. The establishment was among the first to offer air conditioning, a swimming pool, and a showroom. Donn ArdensJubilee! Required fields are marked *. Previously serving as backup, the ladies were becoming the main attraction and would define Vegas style for generations.