Oct
5
History of Las Vegas
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nlwest21 asked:
In 1829 members of the French of the Antonio Armijo party gave Las Vegas its name and used the water around the area while they made their way along the Old Spanish Trail from New Mexico. During this time there were small parts of the Las Vegas Valley that had artesian wells that were able to support large green areas. That is where the name Las Vegas came from. It is Spanish for ‘The Meadows’.
On May 10th, 1855 after Las Vegas had by taken and incorporated into the United States - Brigham Young was ordered to take 30 Mormon missionaries to help convert the Paiute Indians in the area. They built a fort in what is now the downtown area. But over the years there would be problems that stirred between Brigham and new people in the area. The new people that came had more liberal views and questioned Brigham’s practices. This tension caused the Mormons to leave in 1857.
Over the coming years ownership of the Las Vegas Valley and the fort built within its borders would pass between the divided parts of the United States. It was not until 1881 that Archibald Stewart and his wife Helen J. Stewart would gain ownership of the land and would become the new Las Vegas Postmaster.
In 1884 the Stewart family would face tragedy when Archibald was murdered - but this did not stop the plans that were in motion to expand the property. The Stewarts were able to expand it to 1,800 acres and kept the land until it was acquired in 1902 by the San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad. The building of the railroad would bring in many people to Las Vegas helping it to grow in population. Many of these people were farmers.
Another boost in population would come in 1930 when President Herbert Hoover would sign the appropriation bill for the Boulder Dam. The population jumped from 5,000 to 25,000 in hopes that they would be given the job of helping to build the dam. When completed the dam would help to give Las Vegas electricity. The city became the first customer for Southern Nevada Power company and the dam’s name was changed to the Hoover Dam.
By now Las Vegas had made a name for itself because of the ******** of the dam. But the year 1931 would forever stick in people’s mind and it became the time when it would start to grow to new heights. Heights that no city had ever reached.
In 1931 gambling was legalized and Las Vegas started its upward climb to becoming the gaming capital of the world. The city was issued its first gambling license in 1931 - which was given to the Northern Club. Soon other casinos opened their doors to those who wanted to test fate and gamble with their money. Fremont Street, the Las Vegas Club, and the Apache Hotel were some of the first.
In order to attract people to their casinos they wanted to emit excitement and fun. Fremont Street became known as Glitter Gulch because of all the lights that were powered by the Hoover Dam. Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam helped to bring in the tourists - which called for more hotels. These hotels were high class that would be proper enough to accommodate the high class people that came. The city has evolved over the years and hotels and casinos have evolved into something great and an exciting place for those looking to let their inhibitions down.
PROCOPIO
In 1829 members of the French of the Antonio Armijo party gave Las Vegas its name and used the water around the area while they made their way along the Old Spanish Trail from New Mexico. During this time there were small parts of the Las Vegas Valley that had artesian wells that were able to support large green areas. That is where the name Las Vegas came from. It is Spanish for ‘The Meadows’.
On May 10th, 1855 after Las Vegas had by taken and incorporated into the United States - Brigham Young was ordered to take 30 Mormon missionaries to help convert the Paiute Indians in the area. They built a fort in what is now the downtown area. But over the years there would be problems that stirred between Brigham and new people in the area. The new people that came had more liberal views and questioned Brigham’s practices. This tension caused the Mormons to leave in 1857.
Over the coming years ownership of the Las Vegas Valley and the fort built within its borders would pass between the divided parts of the United States. It was not until 1881 that Archibald Stewart and his wife Helen J. Stewart would gain ownership of the land and would become the new Las Vegas Postmaster.
In 1884 the Stewart family would face tragedy when Archibald was murdered - but this did not stop the plans that were in motion to expand the property. The Stewarts were able to expand it to 1,800 acres and kept the land until it was acquired in 1902 by the San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad. The building of the railroad would bring in many people to Las Vegas helping it to grow in population. Many of these people were farmers.
Another boost in population would come in 1930 when President Herbert Hoover would sign the appropriation bill for the Boulder Dam. The population jumped from 5,000 to 25,000 in hopes that they would be given the job of helping to build the dam. When completed the dam would help to give Las Vegas electricity. The city became the first customer for Southern Nevada Power company and the dam’s name was changed to the Hoover Dam.
By now Las Vegas had made a name for itself because of the ******** of the dam. But the year 1931 would forever stick in people’s mind and it became the time when it would start to grow to new heights. Heights that no city had ever reached.
In 1931 gambling was legalized and Las Vegas started its upward climb to becoming the gaming capital of the world. The city was issued its first gambling license in 1931 - which was given to the Northern Club. Soon other casinos opened their doors to those who wanted to test fate and gamble with their money. Fremont Street, the Las Vegas Club, and the Apache Hotel were some of the first.
In order to attract people to their casinos they wanted to emit excitement and fun. Fremont Street became known as Glitter Gulch because of all the lights that were powered by the Hoover Dam. Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam helped to bring in the tourists - which called for more hotels. These hotels were high class that would be proper enough to accommodate the high class people that came. The city has evolved over the years and hotels and casinos have evolved into something great and an exciting place for those looking to let their inhibitions down.
PROCOPIO
Sep
1
Free Things to Do in Vegas: Music, Dancing, Shows and More
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Jamie Jefferson asked:
Las Vegas is one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world, and the retailers and casino owners know it! You’ll often pay premium rates for entertainment, lodging and food just because everything Vegas is in high demand.
But if you think that a Las Vegas vacation is going to cost you an arm and a leg, you may be surprised to find out that there are many things you can do in the city that are completely free.
Downtown Las Vegas has plenty to offer in the way of free shows and historical sites. Fremont Street downtown has free shows such as daredevil acts, live concerts and other entertainment events.
The Hawaiian Island Performers perform on Las Vegas Boulevard everyday from 11 am to 10:30 pm at the top of each hour. They display traditional dancing, music and performances in the midst of Hawaiian themed shops. Best of all, watching the exotic acts doesn’t cost a dime.
The Bellagio hotel has an exciting light and water show each weekday from 3 pm to midnight, and each weekend from noon to midnight. Enjoy the choreographed fountains and music with hundreds of other Vegas visitors.
The Bellagio isn’t the only hotel that offers exciting free events. The MGM Grand Hotel and Flamingo Hotel both have wildlife exhibits that rival any zoo. The MGM features adult lions and cubs each day from 11 am to 10 pm. The Flamingo is home to a Wildlife Habitat that contains birds, turtles, fish and penguins. The penguin feedings at 8:30 am and 6 pm are always a popular sight to see.
The TI (formerly Treasure Island) hotel and the Rio Hotel both have live events that shouldn’t be missed. The “Sirens of TI” is a live battle show between pirates and sultry sirens. Catch this show nightly at 7 pm, 8:30 pm, 10 pm and 11:30 pm.
The Rio Hotel is the home of the Masquerade Show in the Sky. It is a Mardi Gras parade and party complete with floats and beads. It’s free to watch the show, and, for a small fee, you can wear a costume and ride along on the floats. You can catch the parade at 3 pm, 4pm, 5 pm, 6:30 pm, 7:30 pm, 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm.
Of course, all of the shows and showtimes listed above are subject to change, so make sure to look up the showtimes or simply check with your hotel concierge before you venture out each day, so you can schedule your other Vegas activities around them.
These events just scratch the surface of what Las Vegas has to offer for free. Whether you’re into music, wildlife or just a fun party atmosphere, you can find it all in Vegas. Don’t be afraid of exploring all that the city has to offer.
WIGHAM
Las Vegas is one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world, and the retailers and casino owners know it! You’ll often pay premium rates for entertainment, lodging and food just because everything Vegas is in high demand.
But if you think that a Las Vegas vacation is going to cost you an arm and a leg, you may be surprised to find out that there are many things you can do in the city that are completely free.
Downtown Las Vegas has plenty to offer in the way of free shows and historical sites. Fremont Street downtown has free shows such as daredevil acts, live concerts and other entertainment events.
The Hawaiian Island Performers perform on Las Vegas Boulevard everyday from 11 am to 10:30 pm at the top of each hour. They display traditional dancing, music and performances in the midst of Hawaiian themed shops. Best of all, watching the exotic acts doesn’t cost a dime.
The Bellagio hotel has an exciting light and water show each weekday from 3 pm to midnight, and each weekend from noon to midnight. Enjoy the choreographed fountains and music with hundreds of other Vegas visitors.
The Bellagio isn’t the only hotel that offers exciting free events. The MGM Grand Hotel and Flamingo Hotel both have wildlife exhibits that rival any zoo. The MGM features adult lions and cubs each day from 11 am to 10 pm. The Flamingo is home to a Wildlife Habitat that contains birds, turtles, fish and penguins. The penguin feedings at 8:30 am and 6 pm are always a popular sight to see.
The TI (formerly Treasure Island) hotel and the Rio Hotel both have live events that shouldn’t be missed. The “Sirens of TI” is a live battle show between pirates and sultry sirens. Catch this show nightly at 7 pm, 8:30 pm, 10 pm and 11:30 pm.
The Rio Hotel is the home of the Masquerade Show in the Sky. It is a Mardi Gras parade and party complete with floats and beads. It’s free to watch the show, and, for a small fee, you can wear a costume and ride along on the floats. You can catch the parade at 3 pm, 4pm, 5 pm, 6:30 pm, 7:30 pm, 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm.
Of course, all of the shows and showtimes listed above are subject to change, so make sure to look up the showtimes or simply check with your hotel concierge before you venture out each day, so you can schedule your other Vegas activities around them.
These events just scratch the surface of what Las Vegas has to offer for free. Whether you’re into music, wildlife or just a fun party atmosphere, you can find it all in Vegas. Don’t be afraid of exploring all that the city has to offer.
WIGHAM
Mar
10
Recreational Guide: the Arkansas River
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Ryan Hutchings asked:
Arkansas River Geography
The Arkansas River headwaters source is near Leadville, Colorado. The river technically ends in the Mississippi, which leads out to the ocean. The river drops 10,000 feet in the first 125 mile stretch. Within this stretch, the River carves through a large canyon now called the Royal Gorge. Because of the rapid drop of elevation, this stretch of river is popular for whitewater rafting and other river recreation. In total, the river drops 11,400 feet and covers a total of 161,000 square miles. The Arkansas River basin drains 24,904 square miles.
From Colorado, the Arkansas River then runs through Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, before meeting up with the Mississippi River. In total the river runs 1450 miles, which makes the Arkansas River the longest tributary in the Mississippi-Missouri water system.
Carving out many canyons and gorges, perhaps one of the most well known is the Royal Gorge. With a width of 50 feet at its base and a few hundred feet at its top, and a depth of 1200 feet in places, the 10-mile-long canyon is a narrow, steep crevasse through the granite of Fremont Peak.
The Arkansas River is now used as a main waterway for commerce, with the system being formerly called the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System or MKARNS. This specific stretch of the river is 445 miles. It takes a commercial towboat 5 days to travel the MKARNs distance. The commercial stretch of the river has multiple dam and lock systems allowing for greater control over the navigation efforts. The Arkansas River is used for waterway commerce, recreational activities (such as whitewater rafting) and wildlife preservation.
Arkansas River History
The Arkansas River was first discovered by Europeans before the Mississippi River in 1541. After Francisco Vasquez de Coronado forded the river, Hernando de Soto was on the lower river, when he later discovered the Mississippi. The Arkansas River had long been used by native Indians, who relied on the river for a source of food and shelter.
The Arkansas River was claimed in 1682 by La Salle in the name of the king of France. A few years later, a fort was established on the banks of the mouth of the Arkansas. The river fort was called “poste Aux Arcansas” otherwise known today as the Arkansas Post. This became part of the Louisiana territory, which transferred to the hands of Spain after the Treaty of Paris in 1763.
Perhaps the most important part in recent history for the Arkansas River came in 1787, when George Washington claimed that the navigable waters leading to the Mississippi and St. Lawrence.. shall be common highways and forever free…without any tax, impost or duty…” making the Arkansas River free for all future commerce and business. After that, many foreign countries began using the waterways to transport goods inland. In 1803 the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory, including the Arkansas River basin. The Arkansas River also became a very popular route for steamboats transporting people inland from the Mississippi. Many settlements had already been established along the banks and surrounding areas of the river. By 1890, 20,818 acres of land in Kansas were being irrigated by the Arkansas River. From there on, irrigation projects and wells began expanding from the river into the Arkansas valley.
The largest flood happened in 1927. The Arkansas flooded due to huge amounts of rainfall, creating a 6-8 foot wall of water shooting down the river. Every levee broke as the flood made its way to the Mississippi River. Since that date, many dams and locks were built for a total commerce and control solution for the Arkansas river. On December 30, 1970 the water was opened and ready for use. All locks and dams are still in operation, and have been successful ever since.
Arkansas River Rafting and Recreation
One of the most popular recreational activities on the Arkansas River is whitewater rafting. Popular rafting trip are commercially run through the Colorado regions of the Arkansas River. Brown Canyon, Narrows, Bighorn Canyon, Numbers, Royal Gorge are all popular section and spots on the river that whitewater rafters often hit. The river is often too large to run your own private trip through unless you have previous experience and proper equipment.
Outside of river rafting, the Arkansas River is also lined with campground, RV parks and recreational facilities for planning vacations and trips along the river.
JEMISON
Arkansas River Geography
The Arkansas River headwaters source is near Leadville, Colorado. The river technically ends in the Mississippi, which leads out to the ocean. The river drops 10,000 feet in the first 125 mile stretch. Within this stretch, the River carves through a large canyon now called the Royal Gorge. Because of the rapid drop of elevation, this stretch of river is popular for whitewater rafting and other river recreation. In total, the river drops 11,400 feet and covers a total of 161,000 square miles. The Arkansas River basin drains 24,904 square miles.
From Colorado, the Arkansas River then runs through Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, before meeting up with the Mississippi River. In total the river runs 1450 miles, which makes the Arkansas River the longest tributary in the Mississippi-Missouri water system.
Carving out many canyons and gorges, perhaps one of the most well known is the Royal Gorge. With a width of 50 feet at its base and a few hundred feet at its top, and a depth of 1200 feet in places, the 10-mile-long canyon is a narrow, steep crevasse through the granite of Fremont Peak.
The Arkansas River is now used as a main waterway for commerce, with the system being formerly called the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System or MKARNS. This specific stretch of the river is 445 miles. It takes a commercial towboat 5 days to travel the MKARNs distance. The commercial stretch of the river has multiple dam and lock systems allowing for greater control over the navigation efforts. The Arkansas River is used for waterway commerce, recreational activities (such as whitewater rafting) and wildlife preservation.
Arkansas River History
The Arkansas River was first discovered by Europeans before the Mississippi River in 1541. After Francisco Vasquez de Coronado forded the river, Hernando de Soto was on the lower river, when he later discovered the Mississippi. The Arkansas River had long been used by native Indians, who relied on the river for a source of food and shelter.
The Arkansas River was claimed in 1682 by La Salle in the name of the king of France. A few years later, a fort was established on the banks of the mouth of the Arkansas. The river fort was called “poste Aux Arcansas” otherwise known today as the Arkansas Post. This became part of the Louisiana territory, which transferred to the hands of Spain after the Treaty of Paris in 1763.
Perhaps the most important part in recent history for the Arkansas River came in 1787, when George Washington claimed that the navigable waters leading to the Mississippi and St. Lawrence.. shall be common highways and forever free…without any tax, impost or duty…” making the Arkansas River free for all future commerce and business. After that, many foreign countries began using the waterways to transport goods inland. In 1803 the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory, including the Arkansas River basin. The Arkansas River also became a very popular route for steamboats transporting people inland from the Mississippi. Many settlements had already been established along the banks and surrounding areas of the river. By 1890, 20,818 acres of land in Kansas were being irrigated by the Arkansas River. From there on, irrigation projects and wells began expanding from the river into the Arkansas valley.
The largest flood happened in 1927. The Arkansas flooded due to huge amounts of rainfall, creating a 6-8 foot wall of water shooting down the river. Every levee broke as the flood made its way to the Mississippi River. Since that date, many dams and locks were built for a total commerce and control solution for the Arkansas river. On December 30, 1970 the water was opened and ready for use. All locks and dams are still in operation, and have been successful ever since.
Arkansas River Rafting and Recreation
One of the most popular recreational activities on the Arkansas River is whitewater rafting. Popular rafting trip are commercially run through the Colorado regions of the Arkansas River. Brown Canyon, Narrows, Bighorn Canyon, Numbers, Royal Gorge are all popular section and spots on the river that whitewater rafters often hit. The river is often too large to run your own private trip through unless you have previous experience and proper equipment.
Outside of river rafting, the Arkansas River is also lined with campground, RV parks and recreational facilities for planning vacations and trips along the river.
JEMISON