1800 - 2000

1800s
Before the Mormons arrived in the mid-1800s Las Vegas was only a desert, but there was good access of water in the area. At that time the area belonged to Mexico and the Spaniards called it - vegas (meadows in English)

1859
Gold was discover in the area and it was built saloons, restaurants and hotels. The president Abraham Lincoln (president 1861-1865), tried to bring order to the lawlessness desert area and the casinos was shut down. For a period, it was not allowed to gamble in Las Vegas, it was not until 1931 that gambling started again.

1905
The city of Las Vegas is established.

1911
Las Vegas officially became a city. About 800 residents.

1931
Nevada legalizes gambling and the gambling city Las Vegas can begin.

1935 Hoover dam inaugurated. The dam is located about 48 km southwest of Las Vegas. Construction started in 1931 and was finished in 1935. Hoover Dam became a historic landmark in 1985. Length 379 meters and height 221 metres.

1942 The New Frontier Hotel opens its doors on 30 October 1942. It was the second hotel, which opened on the Strip. Before it became a hotel, it was a nightclub called the Pair-O-Dice, which opened in 1930, then changed the name 1936 to The Ambassodor Night Club and 1939, it finally was named the 91 Club. Elvis played his first appearance in Vegas here in 1956.

1946
1946 the first casino hotel opened - Fabulous Flamingo on The Strip.

1946
August 30, 1946 The Golden Nugget is opened. It is also one of the oldest hotels that remain today in Las Vegas.

1952 Sands hotel Hotel "Sands" opens Dec. 15. This was the seventh hotel, which opened on "the Strip". The hotel was designed by arktitekten Wayne McAllister. When billionären Howard Hughes bought the hotel in mid-1960's - a tower was added "the circular tower" that made the hotel known as one of Vegas landmarks at this time. Film: This hotel was among others in the movie "Ocean Eleven" in the 1960s. They spent about 3 weeks at this hotel. The other hotels were "Flamingo, Desert Inn, Riviera and Sahara". In the movie "Con Air" the airplane crashed into the lobby. Showroom/Copa Room: In this room many of the big stars entertained. The best known is perhaps "The Rat Pack" which consisted of: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford. More famous stars that has occurred here is Judy Garland, Lena Horne, Jimmy Durante, Marlene Dietrich, Bobby Darrin and Jerry Lewis.

1951
The Nevada Site (the testing of nuclear weapons) was founded 11 January 1951. It is located about 105 km northwest of the city of Las Vegas.

1952
October 7, Sahara Hotel opens. This was the sixth hotel on "the Strip".

1955 The most famous hotel of all is opened on April 20, Riviera. Riviera is now the ninth hotel on the Strip. The hotel has been owned by several, such as people who had contacts within the Mafia (as so many other hotels at this time in Las Vegas) Liberace was the artist who appeared here when the hotel opened. He is one of the artists in Las Vegas with the biggest pay check.

1955 Dunes hotel opens May 23, 1955. Dunes was the 10th hotel on the Vegas Strip. The hotel was not going so well and in a desperate attempt to get the hotel going they was the first out with topless shows in 1957. They called the show "Minsky's Follies." For many years the hotel was owned by Morris Shenkar - a man with contacts in the St. Louis mafia (Jimmy Hoffa).

1957
Tropicana hotel opens its doors on April 4, 1957.

1958 Stardust hotel opens its doors on 2 July 1958. The hotel was built by Tony Cornero. When the hotel opened the Stardust was the largest hotel in Nevada. Stardust is known for its neon sign. Sigfried and Roy began there career in hotels Stardust in 1970's. The hotel has also been in many films, such as March Attacks. The sign can also be seen in films, among others: Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas.

1959
That's when the famous Las Vegas sign came up designed by: Betty Willis. The famous billboard that welcomes you to Las Vegas, (when you go into the city) stands alone on the southern part of the Strip with the phrase "Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas.

When you leave Las Vegas, you can read the text "Drive Carefully, Welcome back soon", which is written on the other side of the sign. It is probably the most copied icon in Las Vegas - for there is no copyright on the sign.