Las Vegas High School Academic Building and Gymnasium
a.k.a. Las Vegas High School Administration Building and Gymnasium
315 S. Seventh St., Las Vegas, NVThe Las Vegas High School Administration Building and Gymnasium are two, architecturally significant buildings associated with the development of public, secondary education in the City of Las Vegas. The buildings are the most sophisticated examples of the Art Deco style in the City and were designed by the Reno architectural firm of George A. Ferris and Son. The Academic and Gymnasium Buildings were erected in 1930-31 as part of a three-building educational complex and reflect the growth and development of Las Vegas during the period of the Hoover Dam construction.
The development of Las Vegas can be traced to the 1905 construction of the San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad. By 1911 the SPLA and SL had established a characteristic western railroad town on the site to serve as a division point between Utah and California. Town development was confined to railroad-related services until the late 1920s. The Congressional approval of the Boulder Canyon Act in 1928 spurred a period of intensive development for the community. This legislation provided funds for preliminary work on a dam for the Colorado River. The project, which resulted in the construction of the nearby Hoover Dam, was responsible for a 125% population increase in Las Vegas between 1920 and 1930. From an isolated railroad service center, Las Vegas expanded to a modest city providing services to the dam project as well as the tourists attracted by its construction.
In recognition of Las Vegas'increased population and the role of education facilities in attracting a stable, permanent population, the local school district led by superintendent Maude Frazier proposed the construction of a high school complex. The proposed project met with limited community resistance based on project costs, the size of the proposed complex, and its site, then two blocks from the center of town.
Despite this opposition, a $350,000 City bond issue was passed in 1930 for the construction of a three-building high school complex encompassing a Shop Building (d.c.1950) and the existing Academic and Gymnasium Buildings. The complex was designed by architects George A. Ferris and Son and constructed by the Ryberg and Sorenson Construction Company of Salt Lake City. Work on the high school complex was begun in 1930 and completed by September of the following year.
Local significance of the building:
The development of Las Vegas can be traced to the 1905 construction of the San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad. By 1911 the SPLA and SL had established a characteristic western railroad town on the site to serve as a division point between Utah and California. Town development was confined to railroad-related services until the late 1920s. The Congressional approval of the Boulder Canyon Act in 1928 spurred a period of intensive development for the community. This legislation provided funds for preliminary work on a dam for the Colorado River. The project, which resulted in the construction of the nearby Hoover Dam, was responsible for a 125% population increase in Las Vegas between 1920 and 1930. From an isolated railroad service center, Las Vegas expanded to a modest city providing services to the dam project as well as the tourists attracted by its construction.
In recognition of Las Vegas'increased population and the role of education facilities in attracting a stable, permanent population, the local school district led by superintendent Maude Frazier proposed the construction of a high school complex. The proposed project met with limited community resistance based on project costs, the size of the proposed complex, and its site, then two blocks from the center of town.
Despite this opposition, a $350,000 City bond issue was passed in 1930 for the construction of a three-building high school complex encompassing a Shop Building (d.c.1950) and the existing Academic and Gymnasium Buildings. The complex was designed by architects George A. Ferris and Son and constructed by the Ryberg and Sorenson Construction Company of Salt Lake City. Work on the high school complex was begun in 1930 and completed by September of the following year.
Education; Architecture
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
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Las Vegas is home to the world's largest observation wheel: The High Roller, a giant observation wheel located on the Las Vegas Strip, is the largest of its kind in the world.
About Clark County
Clark County Timeline
Clark County, Nevada is located in the southernmost part of the state and has a rich and fascinating history. The area that is now Clark County was first inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Paiute people, who established settlements along the Colorado River.
In the mid-19th century, Mormon pioneers settled in the Las Vegas Valley, establishing a fort and bringing irrigation techniques that transformed the desert landscape. However, their presence was short-lived, and by the 1880s, the area was mostly abandoned once mining activity diminished.
The history of Clark County took a significant turn in 1905 when the railroad arrived in the area, linking it with the rest of the country. This development led to the establishment of Las Vegas as a bustling railroad town, attracting people from various backgrounds and sparking rapid growth in the region.
The next major milestone in Clark County's history came in 1931 when the state of Nevada legalized gambling. This decision forever altered the county's landscape, as casinos and entertainment venues began to flourish. The construction of the Hoover Dam, also in the 1930s, provided employment opportunities and further boosted the economy of Clark County.
Over the following decades, Clark County continued to see exponential growth, driven largely by the tourism and entertainment industries. Las Vegas, in particular, became known as the Entertainment Capital of the World, with its world-class resorts, casinos, and vibrant nightlife attracting millions of visitors annually. Today, Clark County remains a major tourism destination and a dynamic hub of culture, entertainment, and economic activity in the southwestern United States.
In the mid-19th century, Mormon pioneers settled in the Las Vegas Valley, establishing a fort and bringing irrigation techniques that transformed the desert landscape. However, their presence was short-lived, and by the 1880s, the area was mostly abandoned once mining activity diminished.
The history of Clark County took a significant turn in 1905 when the railroad arrived in the area, linking it with the rest of the country. This development led to the establishment of Las Vegas as a bustling railroad town, attracting people from various backgrounds and sparking rapid growth in the region.
The next major milestone in Clark County's history came in 1931 when the state of Nevada legalized gambling. This decision forever altered the county's landscape, as casinos and entertainment venues began to flourish. The construction of the Hoover Dam, also in the 1930s, provided employment opportunities and further boosted the economy of Clark County.
Over the following decades, Clark County continued to see exponential growth, driven largely by the tourism and entertainment industries. Las Vegas, in particular, became known as the Entertainment Capital of the World, with its world-class resorts, casinos, and vibrant nightlife attracting millions of visitors annually. Today, Clark County remains a major tourism destination and a dynamic hub of culture, entertainment, and economic activity in the southwestern United States.
Clark County Timeline
This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Clark County, Nevada.
- 1909 - Clark County is established in Nevada.
- 1931 - Construction of the Hoover Dam begins, bringing an economic boom to the area.
- 1941 - The El Rancho Vegas, the first hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip, opens.
- 1955 - The Moulin Rouge Hotel and Casino becomes the first racially integrated casino in Las Vegas.
- 1967 - The International Hotel (now the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino) opens, becoming the largest hotel in the world at the time.
- 1989 - The Mirage Casino-Hotel opens, starting the era of themed resort development in Las Vegas.
- 1990 - The population of Clark County surpasses one million residents.
- 2005 - The Las Vegas Monorail begins operation, providing public transportation along the Las Vegas Strip.
- 2010 - The population of Clark County exceeds two million residents.