One of the major cities in the United State’s Intermontane West region is the city of Las Vegas, Nevada. This article will discuss its history, and some things to see and do while visiting the city and its surrounding area.
History
Originally, Las Vegas’ functional role was as a railroad stop between Southern California and Salt Lake City, Utah. Later, it became a staging place where materials from nearby mines were shipped to California or back east.
The city of Las Vegas traces its roots back to May 15, 1905, when 110 acres of land were auctioned off by the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad, which was the railroad that linked Southern California and Salt Lake City. That original 110 acres of land rests between what is today Main Street to the west, Fifth Street (Las Vegas Boulevard) to the east, Garces Avenue to the south, and Stewart Avenue to the north. It was six years later, on June 1, 1911, that the original unincorporated town that sprang up as a railroad stop was incorporated to become official.
Later, with the building of Hoover Dam nearby in the early 1930’s, there was an incursion of construction workers and their families, which gave the area an economic boost. When the dam was completed, and later, when what became Nellis Air Force Base was built northeast of the city, and when the mob got involved in building hotel-casinos, tourist started coming to the area, increasing the number of visitors, and causing the economy to boom. It was around the same time that Hoover Dam was built that gambling was legalized in the state of Nevada, but it wasn’t until gangsters got involved in the 1940’s that larger-scale development was made in gambling. By the time gangsters gave way to corporate ownership decades later, Las Vegas had become a ga
mbling mecca known the world over.
Today
This city in southwestern Nevada has systematically used gambling, in many forms, as the anchor to draw tourists and tourist dollars as the bedrock of their economy, and as a way to provide state revenues for the state of Nevada. No other state does this like Nevada does. In fact, in their desire to draw tourist dollars, they have expanded in recent decades to not only have gambling availability, but also top-notch entertainment, like Branson, Missouri but with gambling, shopping, and fine dining, as well as activities that can be enjoyed not just by adults, but by the entire family, including children.
In other words, the functional role of Las Vegas is to attract tourist and their dollars to itself, by providing the world’s best entertainment, primarily gambling, but with other types of entertainment as well, including the aforementioned shows, and amusement parks, among other things. Their economic base is funded primarily by revenues derived directly from gambling, but also from other sources, such as hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, that also cater to the primarily gambling tourist crowd.
Things To Do Around Las Vegas
So, what kind of things are there to go in and around Las Vegas? Here are several things you should consider doing while in Vegas:
Gambling – seeing that this place is the Mecca of gambling in the United States, no trip to the city would be complete without doing some gambling. But make sure to control yourself – you don’t want to “bite off more than you can chew.”
Entertainment – the city of Las Vegas offers lots of different entertainment options, including music concerts, musicals, magic shows, adult shows, etc. The city is known not just for its gambling, but also for its entertainment.
Walk the Vegas Strip and Fremont Street – both are known for their visually spectacular lighting and experience. And don’t forget the Fountains of Bellagio.
The High Roller Wheel – this is an observation wheel, which some may refer to as a Ferris wheel, which is taller than both the London Eye and the Singapore Flyer
The Forum Shops and the Fall of Atlantis animatronic show – this shopping mall is a must-see, and very extravagant to the eyes, and the Fall of Atlantis is an 11-minute show that you will want to see while you are there. These are found at Caesar’s Palace.
Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay – this is not your typical aquarium, but is one that offers some of the most unusual and dangerous of aquatic animals to be found in tropical waters around the world.
Bonnie Springs Ranch – at this place, you can see an old Nevada ghost town, ride on horseback, watch gunfight reenactments, and enjoy some good food at their restaurant.
Hoover Dam and Lake Mead – this is one of the things that helped bring an economic and population boom to the area. It you are visiting the Las Vegas area, no trip would be complete without seeing this dam and the lake created behind it.
