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The history of Las Vegas
Explore downtown Las Vegas, the Arts District, Fremont East and the Historic Westside, with independent restaurants, neighborhood shops and local cultural stops.
People who shaped Las Vegas
These milestones are an introduction, not a complete local history. Follow the linked city and museum sources to explore the people and places behind them.Read the local historical account.
- 1905
A railroad townsite
The railroad land auction of May 15, 1905 helped establish the townsite of Las Vegas.
City reference ↗ - 1911
City incorporation
Las Vegas incorporated as a city on March 16, 1911.
City reference ↗ - 1931
A changing economy
Nevada legalized gambling in 1931, while construction of Hoover Dam brought workers to the region.
City reference ↗ - 1995
Fremont Street Experience
The Fremont Street Experience opened downtown in 1995.
City reference ↗ - 2012
The Mob Museum
The Mob Museum opened in the former federal courthouse and post office building in downtown Las Vegas.
City reference ↗
See the history for yourself.
Walk the Sherman Hill Historic District, one of Las Vegas’ oldest residential neighborhoods, where houses date from around 1880. Check current opening hours before visiting the The Welcome to Fabulous Downtown Las Vegas sign.
For deeper research, the Las Vegas library resources is a starting point for archival material and research help. Historic photographs have their own permissions; we link to the collection instead of treating every old image as free to reuse.
Selected milestones researched October 21, 2026. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.