| Las Vegas celebrated its 100th birthday in 2005. It is | | | | Vegas' many historic attractions. The Mormon Fort, |
| one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, | | | | built by missionaries in 1855, was the first non-Indian |
| growing at a rate of over 5,000 new residents every | | | | settlement in the region and is still located on the |
| month! As of the 2004 census, there were just over a | | | | corner of Washington Avenue and Las Vegas |
| half million residents in Las Vegas proper, however | | | | Boulevard. The goal of the missionaries was to teach |
| Clark County is home to nearly two million. The big | | | | the Paiute Indians farming techniques. The Indians |
| casino building boom began in the mid 1980's. The | | | | rejected the teachings and raided the fort, so the |
| population of Vegas actually doubled in the ten years | | | | missionaries abandoned it just two years after it was |
| between 1985 and 1995. | | | | built. |
| Las Vegas is one of the biggest tourist destinations in | | | | The construction of the Hoover Dam began in 1931. |
| the world. In 2004, there were more than 22,000 | | | | This brought an influx of construction workers which |
| conventions held in the city. More than 37 million people | | | | started a population boom and gave the Depression |
| visited the area, more than five times as many as | | | | Era economy a much needed boost. It is a short |
| visited in 1970. If you are like most, you will stay 3 to 4 | | | | 30-mile drive southeast of Las Vegas on Highway 93 |
| nights there during your vacation. | | | | at the Nevada-Arizona border. A major engineering |
| You can expect to find lots of sunshine in Vegas and | | | | feat, the dam was built by a total of 21,000 men over |
| warm temperatures. The average minimum | | | | a five-year period. It was actually finished two years |
| temperature is 56 degrees F. and the average high is | | | | ahead of schedule! Close to one million visitors take |
| 80 degrees F. There are fun things to do in the area | | | | the tour every year and millions more drive over the |
| parks, golf courses and pools all year. | | | | dam. The Tourist Center is open every day except |
| The first hotel and casino to open in Las Vegas was | | | | Christmas and Thanksgiving. |
| the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino in 1906. It ran into | | | | Las Vegas is famous for its weddings. A marriage |
| some trouble a few years later, in 1910 when law | | | | license costs $55 in Nevada. Many couples choose to |
| made it illegal to gamble. Fortunately, in 1931 the | | | | marry in this state because there is no blood test or |
| Nevada Legislature approved a legalized gambling bill. | | | | waiting period required. In addition to the Las Vegas |
| The first racially integrated hotel, The Moulin Rouge, | | | | Chapels, there are outdoor weddings, gazebo |
| opened in 1955. Two years later, the first topless | | | | weddings, Grand Canyon weddings, Valley of Fire |
| showgirls debuted on the Strip at the Dunes in Minsky's | | | | weddings, limousine drive-through weddings, renew |
| Follies. The famous "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign | | | | your vow weddings, Red Rock Canyon weddings, |
| was created by Betty Willis in 1959. Most of The | | | | helicopter ride over the Strip weddings and live internet |
| famous Las Vegas Strip is not actually inside the Las | | | | WebCam weddings. You can even register online! The |
| Vegas city limits. Most of it is in Clark County. There | | | | city of Las Vegas issues over 123,000 marriage |
| are over 1700 licensed gambling establishments in | | | | licenses per year, or over 300 per day. |
| operation today. | | | | Whether you stay on or off the Strip, or if you are a |
| If you like visiting historic sites, you can stay busy | | | | gambler or non-gambler, a golfer, food fanatic, show |
| taking in such places as the Huntridge Theater, JD | | | | lover, sports fanatic, teenager, thrill seeker, bargain |
| Smith house, Old Spanish Trail, Bonanza Underpass, | | | | hunter, bar hopper, grandparents or just a kid, there is |
| Eureka Locomotive, Frank Wait House, John S. Park | | | | plenty of fun and entertainment waiting for you in Las |
| Historic District Walking Tour, Fifth Street School, Moulin | | | | Vegas! |
| Rouge and Big Springs. These are just a few of Las | | | | |