The History of Las Vegas
Robin Jay
Las Vegas Nevada
89074
United States
Everyone knows the Las Vegas of today... Mega-Resorts, World-Class Shopping, Restaurants that bear the names of celebrity chefs, Spectacular Stage Shows and Hi-Rise Condominiums that rival New York City! But how did this jewel in the desert grow up so fast? More than 5,000 people move to Las Vegas, Nevada every month... drawn to the glitter, the growth and the opportunity that is unique to this valley locale.
Now you can experience the drama that built what began as a mere whistle-stop along the railroad into one of the most rapidly growing metropolitan cities ever. The Las Vegas valley was quietly inhabited by Native Americans for more than 10,000 years, until 1829 - when a young Mexican scout discovered this oasis and named it Las Vegas, meaning "The Meadows."
Mormon missionaries tried to settle here and Pony Express riders cut through the valley. But it wasn't until the gold strike of 1859 and the discovery of the Comstock Lode, the greatest, single mineral strike in history, that Nevada became a destination. The trains came through in 1904. Then, in 1928, when the $165 Million dollar Boulder Canyon Project launched, thousands of depression-weary job seekers came to the valley to work.
Gambling was legalized in 1931 and within ten years, small hotels and casinos begin to crop up, including the Flamingo, owned by the infamous gangster Bugsy Siegel. Audiences from everywhere will enjoy this brief history, but the Power Point that accompanies this entertaining presentation is chock-full of spectacular photos that will transcend language and speak of the realities that made Las Vegas what it is today.
Discover:
* Bugsy Siegel's influence on Las Vegas, right up until his death
* The development of downtown
* The effect the energy crisis of the 1980's had on the casino's lighting
* The bizarre world of Howard Hughes
* Las Vegas' unique tendency for imploding old resorts
* The impact Steve Wynn has had on Las Vegas
* Las Vegas as it evolves from simply an entertainment destination into a World-Class dining, shopping, and residential metropolis
* Why more than 40,000 students call Las Vegas home, making Las Vegas the 11th largest school district in the United States
* What's in store for the future of Las Vegas, and what is the meaning of "Vertical Vegas"?
Robin Jay is a 35-year resident of Las Vegas and has experienced much of this growth first-hand. She shares anecdotes from her personal experience, working in the hotel industry when it was still controlled by organized crime and when Howard Hughes owned much of the city. Go beyond the glitter of Las Vegas Boulevard and enjoy this journey to the heart of what makes Las Vegas the most unique and exciting destination in the world.
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Entertainment