Historic Photos of Las Vegas - Hardcover

by Jeff Burbank (Text by (Art/Photo Books))

Las Vegas--a Spanish word meaning "The Meadows" or "The Grasslands"--was established as a railroad town in 1905 and was officially incorporated in 1911. It is the largest city in the United States founded in the 20th century and goes by the two different nicknames of "The Entertainment Capital of the World" and "Sin City".

Las Vegas continues to evolve: the city legalized gambling in 1936, Bugsy Siegel's Flamingo Hotel opened in 1946 starting the now infamous Las Vegas Strip, and Steve Wynn opened The Mirage in 1989 starting a new era with the megaresort casinos. This book follows life, government, events and people important to Las Vegas history and the building of this unique city.

Spanning over two centuries and two hundred photographs, this is a must have for any long-time resident or history lover of Las Vegas!

Back Jacket

The largest city in the United States to be developed entirely within the twentieth century, Las Vegas has always been a unique place. From its beginnings, when two town sites competed to become the new community rising from the desert, to its modern status as a tourism and entertainment center, Las Vegas has always been a town that took chances and seized opportunities.

Historic Photos of Las Vegas captures this story through still photography selected from the finest collections, a visual record of the city's history presented in hundreds of historic photographs.

From a dusty tent city to the glittering lights of the most popular tourist destination in the country, these images tell of railroads and ranchers, the Hoover Dam and the Vegas Strip, mining and gambling, visionaries and star performers. Historic events and everyday life are preserved in striking black and white images to tell the story of one of America's most exciting cities.