Las Vegas Mormon Fort
a.k.a. Fort Baker;See Also:Las Vegas Mormon Fort (Boundary Increase
900 Las Vegas Blvd., N., Las Vegas, NVThe Church of the Latter-Day Saints was instrumental in the early settlement and development of southern Nevada with the establishment of Mormon colonies. The Las Vegas Mission was the first of these settlements to be established, and was selected by the church to: (1) Raise crops that could not be raised in the colder northern Utah climate; (2) Find new homes for the numerous Mormons coming to Salt Lake Valley area; and (3) To establish a halfway station on the Mormon trail between San Bernardino and Salt Lake. A thirty-man mission group left Salt Lake City on May 10, 1855, and arrived in Las Vegas on June 14, 1855. After touring the Las Vegas Valley on horseback, the decision was made to establish the permanent location on the site of the original stopping place, and work was commenced immediately on the Las Vegas Mormon Fort. The fort was located adjacent to one of the two clear streams of water flowing from the nearby Las Vegas springs which nurtured native grasses and created lush meadows in the valley near Sunrise Mountain.
The natural oasis of meadow and mesquite forest was the winter homeland of the Paiute Indians, who spent their summers in the Charleston Mountains. The valley and the meadows were first known to the Spanish, who named Las Vegas "The Meadows" and marked it as such on maps of the southwestern desert.
Antonio Armijo stopped at the springs in 1829-30, traveling the route which became known as the old Spanish Trail. After 1830 the route was traveled by Spanish traders, emigrants, and frontiersmen who rested beside the springs. On one of his western exploration trips, John C. Fremont camped here on May 3, 1844.
on about August 3, 1855, the missionaries started to build the walls 14 feet high, two feet thick at the bottom, and one foot at the top. The adobe fort enclosed eight two-story houses. Outside the fort the missionaries cultivated small gardens and fields, two and one-half acres being assigned to each of the party; they planted fruit and shade trees and established friendly relations with the Paiutes. Near the fort was also built the first smelter west of the Missouri River. This was
Local significance of the building:
The natural oasis of meadow and mesquite forest was the winter homeland of the Paiute Indians, who spent their summers in the Charleston Mountains. The valley and the meadows were first known to the Spanish, who named Las Vegas "The Meadows" and marked it as such on maps of the southwestern desert.
Antonio Armijo stopped at the springs in 1829-30, traveling the route which became known as the old Spanish Trail. After 1830 the route was traveled by Spanish traders, emigrants, and frontiersmen who rested beside the springs. On one of his western exploration trips, John C. Fremont camped here on May 3, 1844.
on about August 3, 1855, the missionaries started to build the walls 14 feet high, two feet thick at the bottom, and one foot at the top. The adobe fort enclosed eight two-story houses. Outside the fort the missionaries cultivated small gardens and fields, two and one-half acres being assigned to each of the party; they planted fruit and shade trees and established friendly relations with the Paiutes. Near the fort was also built the first smelter west of the Missouri River. This was
Architecture
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
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.
Nevada was the site of the first interracial marriage in the U.S.: In 1859, a white woman and a black man were married in Nevada, making it the site of the first interracial marriage in the U.S.
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.