1905Origins
Las Vegas is founded
BEHIND THE MOMENT
Spins247 • Interactive History
Las Vegas: The Interactive History
From a railroad settlement in 1905 to the world-famous destination of 2026. Explore the people, places and turning points that transformed the desert.
39 milestones • Select a moment to explore
The Complete Historical Archive
Browse every milestone below. The archive remains readable even when JavaScript is unavailable.
1905 — Las Vegas is founded
A railroad land auction establishes the townsite that would become Las Vegas. The San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad helped turn a desert stopping point into a permanent settlement.
1911 — Las Vegas incorporates
Las Vegas formally incorporates as a city in Nevada. The growing railroad community acquires a municipal government, decades before the Strip exists.
1931 — Nevada legalizes gambling
Nevada legalizes casino-style gambling, transforming the state’s economic possibilities. In the same year, work on Hoover Dam brings thousands of workers to southern Nevada.
1931 — Hoover Dam construction begins
Construction begins on the dam, bringing workers, investment and national attention to the region. The dam would later provide water storage and hydroelectric power critical to the Southwest’s growth.
1935 — Hoover Dam is dedicated
President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicates Boulder Dam, later renamed Hoover Dam. The major construction project is completed in 1936 and helps reshape the regional economy.
1941 — El Rancho Vegas opens
El Rancho Vegas opens on Highway 91, helping establish the Strip’s resort-casino model. The property pairs gambling with lodging, dining and entertainment outside the city’s downtown core.
1942 — Last Frontier opens
The Last Frontier becomes another early landmark on the developing Strip. Western-themed hospitality helps give the emerging resort corridor its own identity.
1946 — The Flamingo opens
The Flamingo opens, becoming one of the most famous early luxury casinos on the Strip. Its history is closely associated with Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, although the resort’s development involved several figures.
1950 — The Desert Inn era begins
The Desert Inn opens, helping cement the Strip’s reputation for upscale hospitality. Luxury resorts increasingly compete through celebrity performances, dining and distinctive architecture.
1952 — The Sahara opens
The Sahara opens and becomes a fixture of the mid-century Las Vegas resort scene. The property later hosts prominent performers and remains a recognizable name through multiple transformations.
1955 — The Riviera opens
The Riviera opens as one of the Strip’s notable high-rise resort properties. Its tower helps signal a shift toward a taller, more urban casino skyline.
1958 — The Stardust opens
The Stardust opens with a spectacular roadside presence and a major entertainment focus. Its enormous signage becomes part of the visual language of classic Las Vegas.
1959 — Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas
Betty Willis designs the iconic roadside welcome sign. The sign becomes an enduring symbol of the city and its mid-century optimism.
1960 — The Rat Pack at the Sands
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and friends help define the Strip’s glamorous showroom culture. The Sands becomes strongly associated with the Rat Pack, live performances and celebrity nightlife.
1966 — Howard Hughes arrives
Howard Hughes arrives in Las Vegas and soon begins acquiring major casino properties. His investments help accelerate the industry’s transition toward corporate ownership.
1966 — Caesars Palace reshapes luxury
Caesars Palace opens and helps popularize grand themed luxury on the Strip. Roman-inspired architecture and spectacle show how a resort can sell an immersive fantasy.
1969 — International Hotel opens
The International Hotel opens in 1969 with a huge room count and ambitious entertainment plans. Elvis Presley begins his celebrated residency there in July 1969, helping establish the hotel as a legendary live-music venue. The property is later renamed the Las Vegas Hilton.
1973 — MGM Grand opens
The original MGM Grand opens on the Strip as a major hotel-casino complex. The property is later renamed Bally’s and subsequently Horseshoe Las Vegas.
1980 — MGM Grand fire changes safety
A devastating fire at the original MGM Grand prompts scrutiny of high-rise fire safety. The disaster contributes to major changes in building codes and fire-protection practices.
1989 — The Mirage opens
Steve Wynn’s Mirage opens, helping launch the modern Las Vegas mega-resort era. Its tropical theme and erupting volcano show that attractions can be central to the resort experience.
1990 — Excalibur opens
Excalibur brings medieval fantasy and family-oriented spectacle to the Strip. Theming becomes an increasingly visible way to distinguish large resorts.
1993 — A new MGM Grand opens
The new MGM Grand opens at the south end of the Strip. Its vast scale reflects the intense competition among destination mega-resorts.
1993 — Luxor opens
Luxor opens with a pyramid-shaped hotel and a dramatic beam of light. The resort becomes one of the Strip’s most recognizable architectural silhouettes.
1998 — Bellagio opens
Bellagio opens, pairing luxury hospitality with its famous choreographed fountains. The resort strengthens Las Vegas’s appeal as a destination for fine dining and upscale experiences.
1999 — The Venetian opens
The Venetian opens with canals and elaborate Venice-inspired architecture. Large-scale immersive environments remain central to resort competition.
1999 — Paris Las Vegas joins the skyline
Paris Las Vegas opens, bringing an Eiffel Tower replica to the Strip. Architectural icons become part of the city’s globally recognizable skyline.
2005 — Wynn Las Vegas opens
Wynn Las Vegas opens, emphasizing luxury, dining, retail and integrated entertainment. The property signals another shift in expectations for premium resort experiences.
2009 — CityCenter opens
The CityCenter development introduces a major contemporary architectural complex on the Strip. Modern urban design joins the themed-resort traditions of earlier decades.
2010 — Cosmopolitan brings a new style
The Cosmopolitan opens with a distinctive vertical design and nightlife-oriented positioning. Resort identity increasingly includes restaurants, bars, social spaces and contemporary design.
2014 — The High Roller opens
The High Roller observation wheel opens at The LINQ Promenade. The attraction reflects a broader move toward non-gaming experiences.
2017 — The Golden Knights begin play
The Vegas Golden Knights make their NHL debut. Professional major-league sports become an increasingly important part of Las Vegas’s identity.
2017 — The October 1 tragedy
On October 1, a gunman attacked concertgoers at the Route 91 Harvest music festival, killing 60 people and injuring hundreds. Las Vegas united around the victims, survivors and their families, with the message “Vegas Strong” becoming a symbol of remembrance and solidarity.
2020 — Allegiant Stadium opens
Allegiant Stadium opens as the new home of the Las Vegas Raiders. Large sporting events add another pillar to the city’s visitor economy.
2023 — Sphere opens
Sphere opens with a huge programmable exterior and immersive performance technology. The venue demonstrates how architecture and digital displays can create new landmarks.
2023 — Formula 1 returns to Las Vegas
The Las Vegas Grand Prix brings Formula 1 racing to a street circuit including the Strip. The event places the city’s nightlife landscape at the center of an international sports spectacle.
2024 — Super Bowl LVIII comes to town
Allegiant Stadium hosts the Super Bowl for the first time. The event underlines Las Vegas’s evolution into a major destination for global sporting events.
2024 — The Mirage closes
The Mirage closes after 34 years, marking the end of a landmark mega-resort chapter. The site is slated for redevelopment under the Hard Rock brand, illustrating the city’s constant reinvention.
2026 — A city beyond casino floors
Las Vegas remains a destination for gambling, conventions, live shows, dining and professional sports. The city’s history is not a straight line: properties close, concepts evolve and new attractions redefine the skyline.
2026 — Hard Rock redevelopment
Construction continues on the former Mirage site, where a guitar-shaped Hard Rock hotel tower is planned. The resort is not yet open in 2026; its planned opening is in 2027.
Explore the Las Vegas photo collection (25 images)
Selected photographs from the Spins247 collection. Images illustrate locations and events, but were not necessarily taken in the milestone year.
Further reading and historical reference
- City of Las Vegas — city history and municipal information
- National Park Service: Lake Mead — Hoover Dam region
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas — research and historical collections
- The Neon Museum — Las Vegas signage and visual heritage
Editorial note: Dates refer to selected milestones, not an exhaustive record. Photographs illustrate the locations in later periods and are not necessarily from the milestone year. The Howard Hughes and MGM Grand fire images are AI-generated reconstructions, not archival photographs. Where period photographs are unavailable, later photos or historical-themed artwork are clearly identified. SVG illustrations are used only if a photo fails to load. Last editorial review: October 2026.
