The city of Las Vegas celebrated its 100th birthday on May 15, 2005. The event celebrated the May 15, 1905 land auction when 110 acres of land in downtown Las Vegas were auctioned off.
A 1910 law made it illegal to gamble in Las Vegas. The Nevada Legislature later approved a legalized gambling bill in 1931.
The first hotel and casino to open in Las Vegas was the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino in 1906.
The Hoover Dam was completed in 1935. It took a total of 21,000 men five years to complete the structure.
The Moulin Rouge, the city’s first racially integrated hotel, opened in 1955.
In 1957, topless showgirls debuted on the Las Vegas Strip in “Minsky’s Follies” at the Dunes.
The famous “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign was created in 1959 by Betty Willis.
In 2004, more than 37 million people visited Las Vegas. Compare this to 1970 when a mere 6.7 million people visited the city.
More than 22,000 conventions were held in Las Vegas in 2004.
In 2004, visitors stayed an average of 3.6 nights.
More than 5,000 people move into the Las Vegas valley on a monthly basis.
Las Vegas is home to Clark County School District, the fifth largest school district, which currently handles more than 280,000 students.
The famous Las Vegas strip is for the most part, not within the city limits of Las Vegas. The majority of the strip is located within Clark County.
The Stratosphere Hotel and Tower, at more than 1,100 feet, is the tallest building west of the Mississippi and the fifth tallest building in the United States.
A marriage license costs $55 in Nevada. Many couples choose to marry in Nevada because there is no blood test or waiting period.
Fremont Street was closed to traffic in 1994. The Fremont Street Experience opened in December 1995.
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
Monday, 22 December 2008
GREATEST VEGAS TRAVEL TIP
We don't live in hotels. Not all Vegas women are showgirls. No one wants your kidneys. Now that we've dispelled those little misconceptions, find out more of what the locals know about the real Las Vegas.
Get out there: Arriving before check-in time at your Vegas hotel should be the least of your worries. If you arrive early and your hotel doesn't allow early check-in, grab what necessities you may need for the next couple of hours, drop your bags off with the bellman and be on your way. With so much to do here, don't waste your time in the lobby. Even if it's the most beautiful lobby you've ever seen.
Can't hack traveler's checks: Many Vegas taxi drivers are unable to accept traveler's checks. So, if you plan to pick up a cab at the airport to take you to your hotel and you're carrying only traveler's checks, you might want to turn some to cash before approaching the taxi staging area. Canvassing: What is it, and is it illegal? You know those guys who stand on Las Vegas Boulevard trying to hand out fliers for strip clubs and escort services? They're canvassers. After much fighting with the City Council, the canvassers appear to have won the right to pass out information. Even though most people complain that the fliers cause litter and the canvassers get in the way of pedestrians, we've noticed that if you just keep walking, they aren't aggressive at all. Of course, you could always take a brochure; we just won't take responsibility for anything that happens after that.
What to wear: Yes, Las Vegas is in the desert. And, yes, the temperature gets to be about 115 degrees in the summer. But if you happen to be visiting in the winter (usually from Halloween to Valentine's Day), don't be fooled. A jacket is definitely recommended, especially if the wind is blowing. We know our blood is probably thin from living here, and we may not get blizzards, but consider this your warning -- it's a lot colder here than you'd think. Click here for the latest conditions.
Comfy shoes: There are certain places where fashion is more important than comfort -- Tabú, Studio 54 or JET. However, when you're slumming around during daylight hours, casino hopping or standing in line for a buffet, wear your Hush Puppies or Chuck Taylors. After all, you don't want your fashionable shoes to rub blisters when you're vamping it up at Studio 54. For ladies partying all night at the clubs, we suggest gel insoles. From strappy stilletos to go-go boots, you can actually get away with looking cute and being comfy. Oh, and if you choose to ignore our words of wisdom, make sure you've packed your specially selected Band-Aids.
Crossover: Imagine summer in Vegas. The temperature is 115 degrees and you're wearing your favorite sundress or Bermuda shorts. You're walking down the Strip or Fremont Street when you decide to enter a casino and partake in a cool, refreshing beverage. Prepare to freeze! You'd think there would be a happy medium, but for some reason, casinos tend to keep the thermostat at what feels like a shocking 60 degrees. So you can either (A) have a light jacket with you to put on or (B) grab your drink in a to-go container and get back out in the what-you-once-believed-to-be-sweltering heat.
People-watching: If you love to people-watch but are tired of hanging out at the airport, we've found the next best place. When you're at the Forum Shops at Caesars, request patio dining at Spago. It doesn't matter whether you're eating lunch or dinner, people will flock to the fountains located out front. In fact, anyone venturing to other areas of the shops has to pass by first. Just remember -- no heckling!
Pedestrians: Look left, look right, look left and look right again. Pedestrians need to pay extra special attention as they walk across the Strip. Traffic is scary. Perhaps it's the lights, the volcano, the fountains, the Eiffel Tower or the lion; whatever it is, drivers seem to have a difficult time following simple traffic rules. Even if your light says "Walk," still look left, look right ...
24 hours: It's easy to become spoiled by living in Las Vegas since most businesses stay open late or even 24 hours. It's a shock when we travel and can't get dinner past 9 p.m. or when we see gas stations that actually close. So, while you're here, eat when you want or grab a Big Gulp at 3 a.m. just because you can! If you're looking to wind down after a show, an especially wonderful spot to hang out and grab a cocktail or dessert is the Peppermill. The lounge and coffee shop are open 24 hours a day and have that Old Vegas feel.
You send me: Looking for internet access while you're on the Strip? Thanks to Cyber Stop Internet Cafe, you don't have to look far. The local chain has a full-service location in the Hawaiian Marketplace gift shop (at Polo Towers), featuring not only internet access but also copying, printing, faxing and design services. Internet service is $8 for a half-hour and $12 for an hour.
Aside from room access in many major hotel-casinos (including the Hard Rock and Mandalay Bay), pay-per-use Web terminals also are available throughout prominent locations. McCarran International Airport has pay-per-use kiosks located in areas throughout the C and D gates. The MGM Grand Business Center offers access for 70 cents per minute. The Las Vegas Hilton business center offers 15 minutes of high-speed access for $5. The Tropicana Hotel has four internet terminals near the buffet -- access costs 39 cents a minute, but for faster access, the business center offers high-speed terminals for only 69 cents a minute. Also, the Tropicana has "Wi-Fi" wireless hotspots in their convention area and poolside for fast laptop surfing (if surfing the Web by the pool is your bag). If you happen to be at Fitzgeralds in downtown Vegas, the hotel offers 10 minutes of internet access for $5 at stations located near check-in.
Off the Strip, FedEx Kinko's centers offer Web access at $12 an hour. The closest branches are on Paradise Road, next to Gordon Biersch and across from UNLV on Maryland Parkway. And free Web access is provided at local libraries, but you'll have to wait in line. The closest library to the Strip is at Maryland and Flamingo.
Avoiding the masses: If you're attempting to avoid the crowds and visit Vegas during the slow season, it may be difficult. Vegas is a hot vacation spot year-round. However, we can tell you that from about 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. is perhaps the slowest time, particularly during the week. Early-morning hours are probably the perfect time for new players to step up to a craps table and play without the pressure of veteran players glaring at you.
The water of life: Drinking lots of booze at night + walking around in 115 degree heat during the day = dehydration. Unless you're one of those travelers who enjoy visiting local hospitals and getting strapped to an IV, we recommend you drink lots of water. Avoid the tap water (it actually smells); buy one of those trendy bottled waters. The prices for the bottled stuff are quite high at the hotels, so stop by a local grocery store or convenience store and stock up.
While you're at the drugstore: It's a dry heat. It's a dry cold. It's a dry wind. In Vegas, it's dry, dry, dry. Our hands are dry, our faces are dry and please, don't look at our heels when we wear sandals in the summer, because, yep, they're dry, too. To make up for this dryness, do what we sometimes fail to do and carry with you at all times the following items: lip balm, sunscreen and lotion. It is even a good idea to pick up some re-wetting drops, especially if you wear contacts.
Keeping in touch: Cell phones and walkie talkies are a great way to keep in touch with fellow travelers while in Vegas. Just keep in mind that most casinos frown upon their use on the casino floor (and they're strictly out of bounds in the race and sports books). Walkie talkie users actually say the signal is clearer than on cell phones, plus they're generally cheaper, but they do have a far more limited range.
Attention, gambling virgins: Don't be ashamed. We all can remember that awkward first-time feeling. When you initially sit down at a table, perhaps for a game of blackjack, do yourself a favor -- take lessons if the casino offers them. If lessons aren't available, spend a couple of bucks on the crib card that supplies the basics. When all else fails, ask questions. The dealers are there to help -- and most of the time they're happy to do so. Just watch out for those showy gamblers sitting next to you who seem more than helpful. The dealers are the only true professionals at the table.
It adds up to real money: Coins in a bucket or chips in your hands seem more like play money than the real thing. But it is real, folks -- and unfortunately, there are people out there who would love to separate you from it. Our advice is to keep your change buckets close and your chips even closer. If your winnings become too heavy to lug around, be sure to make use of the hotel safe. By the way, we recommend against the Demi Moore-in-"Indecent Proposal" method of throwing the money on the bed and rolling around in it. You may lose some, and besides, you don't know where that money's been.
Free cigars, you say? The next time you're passing time at the tables or machines and ordering those free drinks, don't forget to ask for a free cigar. Several hotels have been known to keep some of those trendy little incendiary devices on hand for just such an occasion. It's still recommended that you tip the cocktail waitress.
Lower table minimums: Still trying to find your way around the tables and feeling intimidated by the high table limits on the Strip? Head for downtown Vegas. The table minimums for craps, pai-gow poker and "let it ride" are usually lower, so your learning curve won't cost you too much. Oh, and don't forget to order up a shrimp cocktail, just try not to spill cocktail sauce on the tables.
Player's clubs: Stand in line, get the form and sign up for the frequent gambler card at your favorite hotels. Use the card to accumulate points, since you'll probably be gambling anyway, and perhaps receive something free. It helps to be on the mailing list for a lot of hotels. Who knows, they might pick you for a special room rate or decide to send you tickets to a free show.
Specify, specify, specify: Our hotel-casinos are larger than they look -- telling your party to meet you at the bar could leave them wandering around for hours as they try to find the exact spot you were thinking of. Name a specific location all will be able to find -- such as the front desk or the casino's showroom -- and you won't spend your vacation looking for your fellow travelers.
Larger than life: Speaking of hotels that are larger than they look: If you have trouble walking or are a senior citizen, you may want to request rooms near the hotel's elevators. Most people have never seen hotels this large, and you might find it tiring when you have to hike to your room at the far end of a very long hall time after time for five days.
Get out there: Arriving before check-in time at your Vegas hotel should be the least of your worries. If you arrive early and your hotel doesn't allow early check-in, grab what necessities you may need for the next couple of hours, drop your bags off with the bellman and be on your way. With so much to do here, don't waste your time in the lobby. Even if it's the most beautiful lobby you've ever seen.
Can't hack traveler's checks: Many Vegas taxi drivers are unable to accept traveler's checks. So, if you plan to pick up a cab at the airport to take you to your hotel and you're carrying only traveler's checks, you might want to turn some to cash before approaching the taxi staging area. Canvassing: What is it, and is it illegal? You know those guys who stand on Las Vegas Boulevard trying to hand out fliers for strip clubs and escort services? They're canvassers. After much fighting with the City Council, the canvassers appear to have won the right to pass out information. Even though most people complain that the fliers cause litter and the canvassers get in the way of pedestrians, we've noticed that if you just keep walking, they aren't aggressive at all. Of course, you could always take a brochure; we just won't take responsibility for anything that happens after that.
What to wear: Yes, Las Vegas is in the desert. And, yes, the temperature gets to be about 115 degrees in the summer. But if you happen to be visiting in the winter (usually from Halloween to Valentine's Day), don't be fooled. A jacket is definitely recommended, especially if the wind is blowing. We know our blood is probably thin from living here, and we may not get blizzards, but consider this your warning -- it's a lot colder here than you'd think. Click here for the latest conditions.
Comfy shoes: There are certain places where fashion is more important than comfort -- Tabú, Studio 54 or JET. However, when you're slumming around during daylight hours, casino hopping or standing in line for a buffet, wear your Hush Puppies or Chuck Taylors. After all, you don't want your fashionable shoes to rub blisters when you're vamping it up at Studio 54. For ladies partying all night at the clubs, we suggest gel insoles. From strappy stilletos to go-go boots, you can actually get away with looking cute and being comfy. Oh, and if you choose to ignore our words of wisdom, make sure you've packed your specially selected Band-Aids.
Crossover: Imagine summer in Vegas. The temperature is 115 degrees and you're wearing your favorite sundress or Bermuda shorts. You're walking down the Strip or Fremont Street when you decide to enter a casino and partake in a cool, refreshing beverage. Prepare to freeze! You'd think there would be a happy medium, but for some reason, casinos tend to keep the thermostat at what feels like a shocking 60 degrees. So you can either (A) have a light jacket with you to put on or (B) grab your drink in a to-go container and get back out in the what-you-once-believed-to-be-sweltering heat.
People-watching: If you love to people-watch but are tired of hanging out at the airport, we've found the next best place. When you're at the Forum Shops at Caesars, request patio dining at Spago. It doesn't matter whether you're eating lunch or dinner, people will flock to the fountains located out front. In fact, anyone venturing to other areas of the shops has to pass by first. Just remember -- no heckling!
Pedestrians: Look left, look right, look left and look right again. Pedestrians need to pay extra special attention as they walk across the Strip. Traffic is scary. Perhaps it's the lights, the volcano, the fountains, the Eiffel Tower or the lion; whatever it is, drivers seem to have a difficult time following simple traffic rules. Even if your light says "Walk," still look left, look right ...
24 hours: It's easy to become spoiled by living in Las Vegas since most businesses stay open late or even 24 hours. It's a shock when we travel and can't get dinner past 9 p.m. or when we see gas stations that actually close. So, while you're here, eat when you want or grab a Big Gulp at 3 a.m. just because you can! If you're looking to wind down after a show, an especially wonderful spot to hang out and grab a cocktail or dessert is the Peppermill. The lounge and coffee shop are open 24 hours a day and have that Old Vegas feel.
You send me: Looking for internet access while you're on the Strip? Thanks to Cyber Stop Internet Cafe, you don't have to look far. The local chain has a full-service location in the Hawaiian Marketplace gift shop (at Polo Towers), featuring not only internet access but also copying, printing, faxing and design services. Internet service is $8 for a half-hour and $12 for an hour.
Aside from room access in many major hotel-casinos (including the Hard Rock and Mandalay Bay), pay-per-use Web terminals also are available throughout prominent locations. McCarran International Airport has pay-per-use kiosks located in areas throughout the C and D gates. The MGM Grand Business Center offers access for 70 cents per minute. The Las Vegas Hilton business center offers 15 minutes of high-speed access for $5. The Tropicana Hotel has four internet terminals near the buffet -- access costs 39 cents a minute, but for faster access, the business center offers high-speed terminals for only 69 cents a minute. Also, the Tropicana has "Wi-Fi" wireless hotspots in their convention area and poolside for fast laptop surfing (if surfing the Web by the pool is your bag). If you happen to be at Fitzgeralds in downtown Vegas, the hotel offers 10 minutes of internet access for $5 at stations located near check-in.
Off the Strip, FedEx Kinko's centers offer Web access at $12 an hour. The closest branches are on Paradise Road, next to Gordon Biersch and across from UNLV on Maryland Parkway. And free Web access is provided at local libraries, but you'll have to wait in line. The closest library to the Strip is at Maryland and Flamingo.
Avoiding the masses: If you're attempting to avoid the crowds and visit Vegas during the slow season, it may be difficult. Vegas is a hot vacation spot year-round. However, we can tell you that from about 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. is perhaps the slowest time, particularly during the week. Early-morning hours are probably the perfect time for new players to step up to a craps table and play without the pressure of veteran players glaring at you.
The water of life: Drinking lots of booze at night + walking around in 115 degree heat during the day = dehydration. Unless you're one of those travelers who enjoy visiting local hospitals and getting strapped to an IV, we recommend you drink lots of water. Avoid the tap water (it actually smells); buy one of those trendy bottled waters. The prices for the bottled stuff are quite high at the hotels, so stop by a local grocery store or convenience store and stock up.
While you're at the drugstore: It's a dry heat. It's a dry cold. It's a dry wind. In Vegas, it's dry, dry, dry. Our hands are dry, our faces are dry and please, don't look at our heels when we wear sandals in the summer, because, yep, they're dry, too. To make up for this dryness, do what we sometimes fail to do and carry with you at all times the following items: lip balm, sunscreen and lotion. It is even a good idea to pick up some re-wetting drops, especially if you wear contacts.
Keeping in touch: Cell phones and walkie talkies are a great way to keep in touch with fellow travelers while in Vegas. Just keep in mind that most casinos frown upon their use on the casino floor (and they're strictly out of bounds in the race and sports books). Walkie talkie users actually say the signal is clearer than on cell phones, plus they're generally cheaper, but they do have a far more limited range.
Attention, gambling virgins: Don't be ashamed. We all can remember that awkward first-time feeling. When you initially sit down at a table, perhaps for a game of blackjack, do yourself a favor -- take lessons if the casino offers them. If lessons aren't available, spend a couple of bucks on the crib card that supplies the basics. When all else fails, ask questions. The dealers are there to help -- and most of the time they're happy to do so. Just watch out for those showy gamblers sitting next to you who seem more than helpful. The dealers are the only true professionals at the table.
It adds up to real money: Coins in a bucket or chips in your hands seem more like play money than the real thing. But it is real, folks -- and unfortunately, there are people out there who would love to separate you from it. Our advice is to keep your change buckets close and your chips even closer. If your winnings become too heavy to lug around, be sure to make use of the hotel safe. By the way, we recommend against the Demi Moore-in-"Indecent Proposal" method of throwing the money on the bed and rolling around in it. You may lose some, and besides, you don't know where that money's been.
Free cigars, you say? The next time you're passing time at the tables or machines and ordering those free drinks, don't forget to ask for a free cigar. Several hotels have been known to keep some of those trendy little incendiary devices on hand for just such an occasion. It's still recommended that you tip the cocktail waitress.
Lower table minimums: Still trying to find your way around the tables and feeling intimidated by the high table limits on the Strip? Head for downtown Vegas. The table minimums for craps, pai-gow poker and "let it ride" are usually lower, so your learning curve won't cost you too much. Oh, and don't forget to order up a shrimp cocktail, just try not to spill cocktail sauce on the tables.
Player's clubs: Stand in line, get the form and sign up for the frequent gambler card at your favorite hotels. Use the card to accumulate points, since you'll probably be gambling anyway, and perhaps receive something free. It helps to be on the mailing list for a lot of hotels. Who knows, they might pick you for a special room rate or decide to send you tickets to a free show.
Specify, specify, specify: Our hotel-casinos are larger than they look -- telling your party to meet you at the bar could leave them wandering around for hours as they try to find the exact spot you were thinking of. Name a specific location all will be able to find -- such as the front desk or the casino's showroom -- and you won't spend your vacation looking for your fellow travelers.
Larger than life: Speaking of hotels that are larger than they look: If you have trouble walking or are a senior citizen, you may want to request rooms near the hotel's elevators. Most people have never seen hotels this large, and you might find it tiring when you have to hike to your room at the far end of a very long hall time after time for five days.
Friday, 12 December 2008
MnM , Las Vegas
M&M's World is a 26,000 square foot four-story entertainment complex. If you are visiting Las Vegas, you have to come to M&M.
You will find all items like chocolates, apparel, home décor etc. with M&M Brand.There are more than 3,000 different items for sale. M&M's World is located on the Las Vegas STRIP.
If you're coming in from the Strip, you'll notice the charming seasonal display in the front window. As soon as you enter M&M, you would feel elevated already with the upbeat music, lights, bright colours etc.
1st Floor – gift items like key rings, lucky charms, decorative items, soveniers, mugs etc.
2nd Floor – 22 different colours rainbow which is a treat to eyes. Candy dispensers, T Shirts, Fun items, Shoes etc.
3rd Floor – This is the collector’s floor. M&M guitar, Crystals, Coins etc.
4th Floor – suitcases, hand bags, ladies fashion bags, home décor items etc.
Monday, 1 December 2008
LAS VEGAS FACTS
POPULATIONCity of Las Vegas -- 478,434
City of Henderson -- 175,381
City of N. Las Vegas -- 115,488
Clark County -- 1,375,765
Nevada -- 1,998,257
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000
Between 4,000 and 6,000 people move into Clark County monthly.
In 1999, 33.8 million people visited Las Vegas while in
2000 the number rose to 35.8 million.
More than 3.8 million of those were convention delegates.
In 2000 there were 124,270 hotel/motel rooms available.
Source: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Research
LAS VEGAS McCARRAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT1 mile (1.6 km.) from the Strip
3.5 miles (5.6 km.) from the Convention Center
5 miles (8 km.) from Downtown Las Vegas
McCarran is ranked 8th busiest in the world by the
Airports Council in Washington, D.C.
Serves 51 air carriers including:
24 scheduled 2 helicopter services
8 commuter
17 charter
Averages 980 flights a day.
Direct flights to 58 U.S. cities, 1 European city.
In the first four months of 2001, 18.5 million passengers
passed through McCarran. 36.8 million passengers passed
through in 2000. 1.2 million of those were international passangers.
1.3 million square-foot (1.04 million square meter)
terminal with 92 gates, covers 2,820 acres, 5,000 cars a day
use parking facilities, tram to some terminals.
Baggage control computer ramp, moving pedestrian walkways.
Class A port-of-entry, bilateral agreement with Canada,
international signage.
WEATHERAverage temperature 66.3 degrees (19 degrees centigrade). Average yearly rainfall 4.13 inches (10.64 centimeters). Average daily humidity 29 percent. 211.5 clear days annually, 82.4 partly cloudy days, 71.3 cloudy days.
TRANSPORTATIONMore than 965 cabs service metropolitan Las Vegas. More than 325 limousines are available. 16 bus and/or charter firms operate in the city. Citizens Area Transit (CAT) is a public transportation company that operates 31 routes throughout the Las Vegas metropolitan area, and 1 route in Laughlin.
WEDDING CHAPELSMore than 35 wedding chapels. In the first five months of 1995, there were 44,104 wedding licenses issued including 158 in Laughlin. In 1994, 99,310 wedding licenses were issued in the Las Vegas area, with 79 in Laughlin. $35 license fee; Marriage License Bureau hours are 8 a.m. (0800) to midnight (2400) Monday through Thursday; 8 a.m. (0800) Friday to midnight (2400) Sunday; 24 hours all legal holidays in Nevada. On Valentine's Day weekend in 1994, 2,353 marriage licenses were issued. A license can be purchased in Laughlin 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Justice Court Clerk's office in the Regional Government Center, 101 Civic Way.
MUSEUMSBoulder City/Hoover Dam Museum, Guinness World of Records Museum, Las Vegas Art Museum, Las Vegas Museum of Natural History, Liberace Museum & Foundation, Lied Discovery Children's Museum, Lost City Museum of Archaeology, Clark County Heritage Museum, Nevada State Museum & Historical Society, Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History/UNLV, Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Movie Museum.
LIBRARIES10 urban branch libraries, 11 rural branch libraries.
HOSPITALS7 acute care hospitals, 4 hospices, more than 2,000 hospital beds, several licensed nursing homes, private psychiatric hospitals.
ATTRACTIONSMT. CHARLESTON -- 35 miles (56 km.) from Las Vegas, highest elevation 11,918 feet (3,615 meters), winter skiing, picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, tours available.
BONNIE SPRINGS OLD NEVADA -- An old western town in Red Rock Canyon 16 miles west of Las Vegas with a motel, shops, activities and western shootouts.
DEATH VALLEY -- 135 miles (216 km.) from Las Vegas, 40 minutes by plane, lowest elevation on North American Continent at 280 feet below sea level (84.93 meters), Zabiske Point, 20 Mule Canyon, Scotty's Castle, tours available.
ETHEL M CHOCOLATE FACTORY -- Self-guided tours available for factory and outside botanical garden and cactus display.
GRAND CANYON -- About 300 miles (480 km.) from Las Vegas, 1 1/2 hour flight by plane, tours available.
LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA -- Closest point 25 miles (40 km.) from Las Vegas, more than 550 miles (880 km.) of shoreline, swimming, water skiing, camping, boating, fishing, six marinas, tours available. Visitors totaled 3.8 million for the first five months of 1995 and 9,913,705 in 1994.
HOOVER DAM -- 34 miles (54.4 km.) from Las Vegas, 726 feet high (220.00 meters) from bedrock, wonder of the modern world, tours of inside and outside of dam available; in July 1994, the 30 millionth visitor toured the dam since it opened. Visitors touring the dam totaled 279,205 in the first five months of 1995 and 712,130 in 1994. Black Canyon River Raft Tours available below dam.
RED ROCK CANYON -- 15 miles (24 km.) west of Las Vegas, 3,000- foot (910 meters) escarpment produced by thrust fault, Bureau of Land Management visitors center, scenic area of rock formations and desert. Visitors totaled approximately 585,600 during the first five months of 1995 and approximately 900,000 in all of 1994.
VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK -- 55 miles (88 km.) from Las Vegas, scenic landscapes of hidden canyons and unique rock formations, petroglyphs and remains of ancient Indian civilization, Nevada Park Service visitors center, tours available. Visitors totaled 66,702 in the first five months of 1995 and 244,052 in 1994. There is a $3 entrance fee.
CHURCHESMore than 500 churches and synagogues, more than 40 faiths.
SCHOOLS 184 primary and secondary schools, 11th largest district in the U.S. Enrollment for the upcoming school year is expected to be more than 160,000 students.
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGASAnnually more than 20,000 students enroll. The campus is 335- acres (134 hectare); 127 graduate and undergraduate programs offered; more than 600 faculty members; recognized as a "rising star of American higher education."
COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN NEVADANearly 20,000 students enroll annually including full time, part time and non-credit. Three campuses including an 80-acre (32 hectare) campus in North Las Vegas, a 75-acre (30 hectare) campus in Henderson and an 80-acre (32 hectare) Health Science Center campus in Las Vegas. Has the only public planetarium in Southern Nevada.
RECREATION30 golf courses including 1 in Laughlin and 2 in Mesquite. More than 85 tennis courts. 8 bowling centers. Swimming pools at all major hotels and motels. 15 acre Wet 'n Wild water park with surfing, swimming, rafting and water slides. Family amusement centers including Scandia, Funtasia and Mountasia feature miniature golf, go-carts, Grand Prix cars, roller skating, batting cages, bumper cars, virtual reality. Ice skating rink at Santa Fe Hotel/Casino.
INDIANS There are three Indian tribes indigenous to Nevada including the Shoshone; the Washoe, and the Paiute of which there are the Southern Paiutes and the Northern Paiutes. There are 25 reservations in the state encompassing 1,304,837 acres (521,934.8 hectares). Two of the reservations, totaling 75,804 acres (30,321.6 hectares), are in Clark County.
NEVADA Name means "snowcapped" in Spanish, it was admitted to the union in 1864, its nickname is the "Battle Born State," it is the seventh largest state in terms of square miles and ranks 38th in population.
CLARK COUNTY County was created Feb. 5, 1908, its name honors William A. Clark, U.S. senator from Montana who built the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad, the county covers 7,881 square miles (20,490.6 square kilometers) which is comparable to the area of Massachusetts.
LAS VEGAS Name means "the meadows" in Spanish, founded in 1905, incorporated March 16, 1911, the city covers 84.272 square miles (219.1 square kilometers).
LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER3.2 million square feet of total space with approximately 2 million square feet of net exhibit space, and 380,000 square feet of net meeting room space, accommodating 170 meeting rooms with seating capacities from 20 to 7,500. An additional 100,000 square feet at the Cashman Field facility.
PERFORMING ARTS Allied Arts Council, Nevada Dance Theatre, Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra, Nevada School of the Arts, Reed Whipple Cultural Center, Las Vegas Little Theater, New West Theatre Company, Rainbow Company (children's theater), Nevada Opera Theatre.
GAMBLING There are 1,271 gaming licenses in Clark County, 122,800 slot machines and 3,896 live table games including poker and pan.Gaming Control Board, June 1995
Clark County casinos won $5.8 billion in the first nine months of 2001 and $7.7 billion throughout 2000. Statewide, casinos won $2.343 billion in the first four months of 1995 and $7.1 billion in 1994.Gaming Control Board, June 1995
The number of slot machines statewide total 176,995 and the number of live table games statewide total 5,782.Gaming Control Board, June 1995 LAUGHLIN Modern day boomtown 90 miles (145 km.) southeast of Las Vegas on the Colorado River, more than 5.6 million tourists visited Laughlin in 1994 including more than 150,000 from foreign countries; there are 11,779 rooms available in Laughlin and it's sister city Bullhead City, AZ; gaming establishments won $182.6 million in the first four months of 1995, and $534.9 million in all of 1994; there are 12,667 slot machines in operation in Laughlin and 409 table games; there are nine major hotels; the average temperature is 72 degrees (22.22 degrees centigrade), and entertainment includes boating, fishing, sunbathing.
OTHER BORDER RESORTSMESQUITE -- 77 miles (124 km.) northeast of Las Vegas; 1,171 rooms; three major casino resorts, Si Redd's Oasis, Virgin River Hotel-Casino and Players Island Resort Casino Spa. A smaller property, Stateline Casino, is also located in Mesquite. Activities include golf; tennis; sporting clays; health spa, and western ranch.
PRIMM -- Three major casinos, Whiskey Pete's, Primadonna and Buffalo Bill's. The three resorts are linked by monorail. Buffalo Bill's features the world's steepest, fastest roller coaster. Primm is the last chance for motorists to gamble in Nevada. A convenience store on Primadonna property in California sells lottery tickets.
JEAN -- Two major casinos, Gold Strike Casino and Nevada Landing, flank Interstate 15 approximately 25 miles south of Las Vegas; rooms $18 a night during the week; 5 cent arcade for children; RV park planned.
GOLD STRIKE INN -- This major casino is just three miles west of Hoover Dam and is the first gaming enterprise travelers encounter after driving to Nevada from Arizona across the dam. Features a 17-story hotel with 378 rooms.
City of Henderson -- 175,381
City of N. Las Vegas -- 115,488
Clark County -- 1,375,765
Nevada -- 1,998,257
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000
Between 4,000 and 6,000 people move into Clark County monthly.
In 1999, 33.8 million people visited Las Vegas while in
2000 the number rose to 35.8 million.
More than 3.8 million of those were convention delegates.
In 2000 there were 124,270 hotel/motel rooms available.
Source: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Research
LAS VEGAS McCARRAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT1 mile (1.6 km.) from the Strip
3.5 miles (5.6 km.) from the Convention Center
5 miles (8 km.) from Downtown Las Vegas
McCarran is ranked 8th busiest in the world by the
Airports Council in Washington, D.C.
Serves 51 air carriers including:
24 scheduled 2 helicopter services
8 commuter
17 charter
Averages 980 flights a day.
Direct flights to 58 U.S. cities, 1 European city.
In the first four months of 2001, 18.5 million passengers
passed through McCarran. 36.8 million passengers passed
through in 2000. 1.2 million of those were international passangers.
1.3 million square-foot (1.04 million square meter)
terminal with 92 gates, covers 2,820 acres, 5,000 cars a day
use parking facilities, tram to some terminals.
Baggage control computer ramp, moving pedestrian walkways.
Class A port-of-entry, bilateral agreement with Canada,
international signage.
WEATHERAverage temperature 66.3 degrees (19 degrees centigrade). Average yearly rainfall 4.13 inches (10.64 centimeters). Average daily humidity 29 percent. 211.5 clear days annually, 82.4 partly cloudy days, 71.3 cloudy days.
TRANSPORTATIONMore than 965 cabs service metropolitan Las Vegas. More than 325 limousines are available. 16 bus and/or charter firms operate in the city. Citizens Area Transit (CAT) is a public transportation company that operates 31 routes throughout the Las Vegas metropolitan area, and 1 route in Laughlin.
WEDDING CHAPELSMore than 35 wedding chapels. In the first five months of 1995, there were 44,104 wedding licenses issued including 158 in Laughlin. In 1994, 99,310 wedding licenses were issued in the Las Vegas area, with 79 in Laughlin. $35 license fee; Marriage License Bureau hours are 8 a.m. (0800) to midnight (2400) Monday through Thursday; 8 a.m. (0800) Friday to midnight (2400) Sunday; 24 hours all legal holidays in Nevada. On Valentine's Day weekend in 1994, 2,353 marriage licenses were issued. A license can be purchased in Laughlin 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Justice Court Clerk's office in the Regional Government Center, 101 Civic Way.
MUSEUMSBoulder City/Hoover Dam Museum, Guinness World of Records Museum, Las Vegas Art Museum, Las Vegas Museum of Natural History, Liberace Museum & Foundation, Lied Discovery Children's Museum, Lost City Museum of Archaeology, Clark County Heritage Museum, Nevada State Museum & Historical Society, Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History/UNLV, Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Movie Museum.
LIBRARIES10 urban branch libraries, 11 rural branch libraries.
HOSPITALS7 acute care hospitals, 4 hospices, more than 2,000 hospital beds, several licensed nursing homes, private psychiatric hospitals.
ATTRACTIONSMT. CHARLESTON -- 35 miles (56 km.) from Las Vegas, highest elevation 11,918 feet (3,615 meters), winter skiing, picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, tours available.
BONNIE SPRINGS OLD NEVADA -- An old western town in Red Rock Canyon 16 miles west of Las Vegas with a motel, shops, activities and western shootouts.
DEATH VALLEY -- 135 miles (216 km.) from Las Vegas, 40 minutes by plane, lowest elevation on North American Continent at 280 feet below sea level (84.93 meters), Zabiske Point, 20 Mule Canyon, Scotty's Castle, tours available.
ETHEL M CHOCOLATE FACTORY -- Self-guided tours available for factory and outside botanical garden and cactus display.
GRAND CANYON -- About 300 miles (480 km.) from Las Vegas, 1 1/2 hour flight by plane, tours available.
LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA -- Closest point 25 miles (40 km.) from Las Vegas, more than 550 miles (880 km.) of shoreline, swimming, water skiing, camping, boating, fishing, six marinas, tours available. Visitors totaled 3.8 million for the first five months of 1995 and 9,913,705 in 1994.
HOOVER DAM -- 34 miles (54.4 km.) from Las Vegas, 726 feet high (220.00 meters) from bedrock, wonder of the modern world, tours of inside and outside of dam available; in July 1994, the 30 millionth visitor toured the dam since it opened. Visitors touring the dam totaled 279,205 in the first five months of 1995 and 712,130 in 1994. Black Canyon River Raft Tours available below dam.
RED ROCK CANYON -- 15 miles (24 km.) west of Las Vegas, 3,000- foot (910 meters) escarpment produced by thrust fault, Bureau of Land Management visitors center, scenic area of rock formations and desert. Visitors totaled approximately 585,600 during the first five months of 1995 and approximately 900,000 in all of 1994.
VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK -- 55 miles (88 km.) from Las Vegas, scenic landscapes of hidden canyons and unique rock formations, petroglyphs and remains of ancient Indian civilization, Nevada Park Service visitors center, tours available. Visitors totaled 66,702 in the first five months of 1995 and 244,052 in 1994. There is a $3 entrance fee.
CHURCHESMore than 500 churches and synagogues, more than 40 faiths.
SCHOOLS 184 primary and secondary schools, 11th largest district in the U.S. Enrollment for the upcoming school year is expected to be more than 160,000 students.
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGASAnnually more than 20,000 students enroll. The campus is 335- acres (134 hectare); 127 graduate and undergraduate programs offered; more than 600 faculty members; recognized as a "rising star of American higher education."
COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN NEVADANearly 20,000 students enroll annually including full time, part time and non-credit. Three campuses including an 80-acre (32 hectare) campus in North Las Vegas, a 75-acre (30 hectare) campus in Henderson and an 80-acre (32 hectare) Health Science Center campus in Las Vegas. Has the only public planetarium in Southern Nevada.
RECREATION30 golf courses including 1 in Laughlin and 2 in Mesquite. More than 85 tennis courts. 8 bowling centers. Swimming pools at all major hotels and motels. 15 acre Wet 'n Wild water park with surfing, swimming, rafting and water slides. Family amusement centers including Scandia, Funtasia and Mountasia feature miniature golf, go-carts, Grand Prix cars, roller skating, batting cages, bumper cars, virtual reality. Ice skating rink at Santa Fe Hotel/Casino.
INDIANS There are three Indian tribes indigenous to Nevada including the Shoshone; the Washoe, and the Paiute of which there are the Southern Paiutes and the Northern Paiutes. There are 25 reservations in the state encompassing 1,304,837 acres (521,934.8 hectares). Two of the reservations, totaling 75,804 acres (30,321.6 hectares), are in Clark County.
NEVADA Name means "snowcapped" in Spanish, it was admitted to the union in 1864, its nickname is the "Battle Born State," it is the seventh largest state in terms of square miles and ranks 38th in population.
CLARK COUNTY County was created Feb. 5, 1908, its name honors William A. Clark, U.S. senator from Montana who built the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad, the county covers 7,881 square miles (20,490.6 square kilometers) which is comparable to the area of Massachusetts.
LAS VEGAS Name means "the meadows" in Spanish, founded in 1905, incorporated March 16, 1911, the city covers 84.272 square miles (219.1 square kilometers).
LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER3.2 million square feet of total space with approximately 2 million square feet of net exhibit space, and 380,000 square feet of net meeting room space, accommodating 170 meeting rooms with seating capacities from 20 to 7,500. An additional 100,000 square feet at the Cashman Field facility.
PERFORMING ARTS Allied Arts Council, Nevada Dance Theatre, Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra, Nevada School of the Arts, Reed Whipple Cultural Center, Las Vegas Little Theater, New West Theatre Company, Rainbow Company (children's theater), Nevada Opera Theatre.
GAMBLING There are 1,271 gaming licenses in Clark County, 122,800 slot machines and 3,896 live table games including poker and pan.Gaming Control Board, June 1995
Clark County casinos won $5.8 billion in the first nine months of 2001 and $7.7 billion throughout 2000. Statewide, casinos won $2.343 billion in the first four months of 1995 and $7.1 billion in 1994.Gaming Control Board, June 1995
The number of slot machines statewide total 176,995 and the number of live table games statewide total 5,782.Gaming Control Board, June 1995 LAUGHLIN Modern day boomtown 90 miles (145 km.) southeast of Las Vegas on the Colorado River, more than 5.6 million tourists visited Laughlin in 1994 including more than 150,000 from foreign countries; there are 11,779 rooms available in Laughlin and it's sister city Bullhead City, AZ; gaming establishments won $182.6 million in the first four months of 1995, and $534.9 million in all of 1994; there are 12,667 slot machines in operation in Laughlin and 409 table games; there are nine major hotels; the average temperature is 72 degrees (22.22 degrees centigrade), and entertainment includes boating, fishing, sunbathing.
OTHER BORDER RESORTSMESQUITE -- 77 miles (124 km.) northeast of Las Vegas; 1,171 rooms; three major casino resorts, Si Redd's Oasis, Virgin River Hotel-Casino and Players Island Resort Casino Spa. A smaller property, Stateline Casino, is also located in Mesquite. Activities include golf; tennis; sporting clays; health spa, and western ranch.
PRIMM -- Three major casinos, Whiskey Pete's, Primadonna and Buffalo Bill's. The three resorts are linked by monorail. Buffalo Bill's features the world's steepest, fastest roller coaster. Primm is the last chance for motorists to gamble in Nevada. A convenience store on Primadonna property in California sells lottery tickets.
JEAN -- Two major casinos, Gold Strike Casino and Nevada Landing, flank Interstate 15 approximately 25 miles south of Las Vegas; rooms $18 a night during the week; 5 cent arcade for children; RV park planned.
GOLD STRIKE INN -- This major casino is just three miles west of Hoover Dam and is the first gaming enterprise travelers encounter after driving to Nevada from Arizona across the dam. Features a 17-story hotel with 378 rooms.
Friday, 10 October 2008
NOTED GAMBLERS WHO MADE LAS VEGAS
Here, in alphabetical order, are some of the key casino operators who helped build Las Vegas (* denotes deceased):
WILLIAM BENNETT* — Developed modern gaming marketing techniques that made Circus Circus properties the envy of Wall Street investors and later owned the Sahara. Enshrined in the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame in 1990.
BENNY BINION* — Opened the Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas in 1951 and innovated gambling by raising craps limits to $5,000 and starting the World Series of Poker in 1970. Enshrined in the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame in 1990. Son Jack Binion, also a gamer of note, enshrined in the AGA Hall of Fame in 2004.
SAM BOYD* — Built Sam’s Town in southeast Las Vegas, paving the way for neighborhood casino gambling and oversaw a casino empire that included the Fremont, California and Stardust. Enshrined in the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame in 1991. Son William Boyd, also a noted gamer, enshrined in the AGA Hall of Fame in 1993.
WILBUR CLARK* — Developed the Desert Inn and operated it at a time when it was considered the most luxurious resort on the Strip.
MOE DALITZ* — Helped finance completion of the Desert Inn and also oversaw the Stardust in its earliest days before building the Sundance (today’s Fitzgeralds) in the late 1970s.
RALPH ENGELSTAD* — Built the Imperial Palace, where he long displayed his huge antique auto collection.
MEL EXBER* — Owned the downtown Las Vegas Club and became a leader in the sports gaming industry by posting early betting lines and creating innovative sports wagering opportunities.
FRANK FERTITTA JR. — Purchased the off-Strip Bingo Palace and turned it into the Palace Station, which became the flagship of the Stations Casinos empire that includes the Texas Station, Red Rock Resort and Sunset Stations. His sons, Frank III and Lorenzo, took over the company in 1993.
JACKIE GAUGHAN — At one time owned 11 gaming properties including the Plaza Hotel and El Cortez downtown. Enshrined in the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame in 1990. Son Michael Gaughan also developed several casinos, including the Gold Coast and the Orleans.
E.W. GRIFFITH* — A Texas hotel magnate who purchased 35 acres along Highway 91 (now Las Vegas Boulevard) for $35,000 and built on it the western-themed Last Frontier, which opened on Oct. 30, 1942.
WILLIAM BENNETT* — Developed modern gaming marketing techniques that made Circus Circus properties the envy of Wall Street investors and later owned the Sahara. Enshrined in the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame in 1990.
BENNY BINION* — Opened the Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas in 1951 and innovated gambling by raising craps limits to $5,000 and starting the World Series of Poker in 1970. Enshrined in the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame in 1990. Son Jack Binion, also a gamer of note, enshrined in the AGA Hall of Fame in 2004.
SAM BOYD* — Built Sam’s Town in southeast Las Vegas, paving the way for neighborhood casino gambling and oversaw a casino empire that included the Fremont, California and Stardust. Enshrined in the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame in 1991. Son William Boyd, also a noted gamer, enshrined in the AGA Hall of Fame in 1993.
WILBUR CLARK* — Developed the Desert Inn and operated it at a time when it was considered the most luxurious resort on the Strip.
MOE DALITZ* — Helped finance completion of the Desert Inn and also oversaw the Stardust in its earliest days before building the Sundance (today’s Fitzgeralds) in the late 1970s.
RALPH ENGELSTAD* — Built the Imperial Palace, where he long displayed his huge antique auto collection.
MEL EXBER* — Owned the downtown Las Vegas Club and became a leader in the sports gaming industry by posting early betting lines and creating innovative sports wagering opportunities.
FRANK FERTITTA JR. — Purchased the off-Strip Bingo Palace and turned it into the Palace Station, which became the flagship of the Stations Casinos empire that includes the Texas Station, Red Rock Resort and Sunset Stations. His sons, Frank III and Lorenzo, took over the company in 1993.
JACKIE GAUGHAN — At one time owned 11 gaming properties including the Plaza Hotel and El Cortez downtown. Enshrined in the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame in 1990. Son Michael Gaughan also developed several casinos, including the Gold Coast and the Orleans.
E.W. GRIFFITH* — A Texas hotel magnate who purchased 35 acres along Highway 91 (now Las Vegas Boulevard) for $35,000 and built on it the western-themed Last Frontier, which opened on Oct. 30, 1942.
J. KELL HOUSSELS SR.* — Ran the Tropicana and was instrumental in the growth of the Las Vegas Club, Showboat and El Cortez. His son J. Kell Houssels Jr. also became a noted gaming figure who was enshrined in the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame in 1998.
HOWARD HUGHES* — Acquired in the 1960s major casinos including the Desert Inn and Sands as tax shelters to offset the windfall he received for selling his airline. He also at one time owned the Frontier, Castaways and Landmark.
BELDON KATLEMAN* — Bought El Rancho Vegas in the mid-1940s and renovated and expanded it through the 1950s. Started the popular Las Vegas trend of using entertainment to promote the casino, signing such headliners as Joe E. Lewis for his showroom.
KIRK KERKORIAN — Built the MGM Grand and International Hotel, which now is the Las Vegas Hilton. Sold the original MGM to Bally’s and built the modern MGM Grand farther south on the Strip. Enshrined in the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame in 1991.
DON LAUGHLIN — Built the Riverside casino on the shores of the Colorado River in the Southern Nevada gaming boomtown to which he gave his name. Enshrined in the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame in 1991.
CLIFFORD PERLMAN — Along with brother Stewart in the 1980s turned Caesars Palace into one of the most successful gaming operations in Las Vegas history. Enshrined in the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame in 2007.
MILTON PRELL* — Operated the Club Bingo and built the Sahara on the same site before opening the Aladdin (now Planet Hollywood) in 1966.
MAJOR RIDDLE* — Operated the Dunes, built the Silver Nugget in North Las Vegas and turned the old Thunderbird into the Silverbird in the 1970s.
JAY SARNO* — Helped build Caesars Palace and later built Circus Circus. Enshrined in the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame in 1989.
DEL WEBB* — Bought the Sahara, built the old Mint, operated the Thunderbird and ran casinos at Lake Tahoe, Reno, Laughlin and Atlantic City. Enshrined in the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame in 2000.
CLAUDINE WILLIAMS — With husband Selby opened the Holiday Casino on the Strip on July 2, 1973, and continued to run it after he died in 1977. Remained a top executive with the resort after it became Harrah’s. First woman enshrined in the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame, in 1992.
STEVE WYNN — As chairman of the Golden Nugget, he ushered in the megaresort age by building the Mirage, Treasure Island and Bellagio, then sold them and built the Wynn Las Vegas, where the Desert Inn once stood. Enshrined in the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame in 2006.
Friday, 19 September 2008
LARGEST HEPATITIS OUTBREAK IN LAS VEGAS
The largest hepatitis outbreak scare in the nation is playing out in Las Vegas, where 50,000 patients at an endoscopy center may have been exposed to infectious diseases because of unhygienic practices.
Seventy-seven patients have so far been identified by health authorities as having been potentially infected with hepatitis C at the clinic, which has been shut down — along with five sister clinics in the valley.
Criminal investigations are underway and the state’s medical and nursing boards are investigating the situation, which some nurses say was triggered by the clinic owner’s drive for profit at the expense of patient safety.
Seventy-seven patients have so far been identified by health authorities as having been potentially infected with hepatitis C at the clinic, which has been shut down — along with five sister clinics in the valley.
Criminal investigations are underway and the state’s medical and nursing boards are investigating the situation, which some nurses say was triggered by the clinic owner’s drive for profit at the expense of patient safety.
Friday, 12 September 2008
HISTORY OF LAS VEGAS (1)
Prehistoric Southern Nevada was a virtual marsh of abundant water and vegetation.
As eons passed, the marsh receded. Rivers disappeared beneath the surface. The once teeming wetlands evolved into a parched, arid landscape that supported only the hardiest of plants and animals. Water trapped underground in the complicated geologic formations of the Las Vegas Valley sporadically surfaced to nourish luxuriant plants, creating an oasis in the desert as the life- giving water flowed to the Colorado River.
Construction workers in 1993 discovered the remains of a Columbian mammoth that roamed the area during prehistoric times. Paleontologists estimate the bones to be 8,000 to 15,000 years old. Hidden for centuries from all but native Americans, the Las Vegas Valley oasis was protected from discovery by the surrounding harsh and unforgiving Mojave Desert.
Mexican trader Antonio Armijo, leading a 60-man party along the Spanish Trail to Los Angeles in 1829, veered from the accepted route.
While Armijo's caravan was camped Christmas Day about 100 miles northeast of present day Las Vegas, a scouting party rode west in search of water. An experienced young Mexican scout, Rafael Rivera, left the main party and ventured into the unexplored desert. Within two weeks, he discovered Las Vegas Springs.
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