A brief insight into Las Vegas

When people think of Las Vegas, they imagine the vivacious glow of the city, the magnificent hotels, and the splendor and variety of the famous casinos. The city is filled with glamour and glitz of the exciting and vibrant nightlife.  However, if we come down to the history of Las Vegas, then it was a lot different from what it is today.

At one time, Las Vegas was known as southern Nevada and was profuse with vegetation and water. As time passed by, rivers retreated and marshlands dried out. The lush and vibrant marshlands became a parched desert. The water trap occasionally facade and created some kind of an oasis in the wasteland. Until 1829, this oasis was hidden to all except the Native Americans. That is when a small section of explorers from Mexico uncovered it and named it as “Las Vegas” which in Spanish means "the meadows".

By the early 1850's, Mormon settlers arrived here from Salt Lake City. By the beginning of 1900's, Las Vegas emerged as a halt on the route of the railway. This further triggered the growth boarding houses, saloons and local stores. The stop is still located on Fremont Street closer to the Plaza Hotel in the downtown. This is the only railway station in the entire world which is situated inside a casino and a resort.

Since 1930’s to the present day, there are numerous factors that have contributed to the unrestrained growth of Las Vegas city. Railways expansion continued at a balanced pace and gambling became legal in Nevada. The construction of giant Hoover Dam also began during this time. All these three factors allowed Las Vegas to flourish and expand, whilst many other cities were still thwarted by the complexities of the depression.

This primary growth elicited the construction of the early hotels, which later became the famous strip of Las Vegas. The building bang has more or less sustained even to the present day. Flamingo is the only name enduring from 1940's till today. Flamingo Hilton was amongst the first property to develop as a casino and a hotel. By 1950's, Vegas continued to flourish and numerous resorts were added, which included the Riviera, Sands, Stardust and Tropicana hotels. Afterwards a huge convention center was also built to allure business traveler.

While you enjoy the exciting and colorful trip to Las Vegas, it is enlightening to take a look on the reflecting history of Nevada. The city is beautiful and happening and offers you more than what you can ever dream of.