Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Las Vegas Mormon FortState Historic Park |
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Reconstructed portion of fort
in downtown Las Vegas |
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| Location | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| Area | 3.16 acres (1.28 ha) |
| Elevation | 1,923 ft (586 m) |
| Established | 1991 |
| Administered by | Nevada Division of State Parks |
| Designation | Nevada state historic park |
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Las Vegas Mormon Fort
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Part of the original fort, later remodeled and used as a testing laboratory by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
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| Location | 500 E. Washington Ave. Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Area | 0.699 acres |
| Built | 1855 |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000764 (original) 78003379 (increase) |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | February 1, 1972 |
| Boundary increase | December 12, 1978 |
The Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park is a special park in Nevada. It holds the Old Mormon Fort, which was finished in 1855. This fort was the very first permanent building in what would become Las Vegas about 50 years later.
Today, you can find the park in downtown Las Vegas. It is at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Washington Avenue. This park is unique because it's the only state park in a U.S. city that protects the city's first-ever building. The fort was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 1, 1972.
The site is remembered with a special tablet from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There are also two markers placed by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.
Contents
What Was the Fort For?
The fort was built in a style called New Mexico folk carpenter architecture. Its main goal was to help people travel safely along the Spanish Trail. This trail was an important path for trade and travel.
The fort also helped Mormon missionaries in the Las Vegas Valley. It gave them a safe place as they traveled from New Mexico to California.
The fort had strong adobe walls that were 14 feet (4.3 meters) high. These walls stretched for 150 feet (46 meters). Even though it was called a fort, it never had soldiers living there. Instead, it offered protection and shelter for settlers and travelers, much like other Mormon forts.
A Look Back at the Fort's History
The Mormon Settlers Arrive
On June 14, 1855, Mormon missionaries arrived in the area. They were led by William Bringhurst. They chose a spot next to a creek that flowed from the Las Vegas Springs to build their fort.
This fort became an important stop along the trail. It was right in the middle of the journey between Salt Lake City, Utah and Los Angeles, California. However, the Mormons left the fort when a conflict known as the Utah War began.
Life After the Mormons
Around 1860, a small group of U.S. Army troops came to protect the settlers at the fort. During the Civil War, the fort was sometimes called Fort Baker. It was named after Edward Dickinson Baker.
In 1865, a man named Octavius Gass moved into the fort. He started using the land for farming and irrigation. He renamed the area Los Vegas Rancho. Later, in 1902, it was renamed Las Vegas.
Gass eventually lost the ranch to Archibald Stewart in 1881. Stewart and his wife, Helen, then took care of the property. In 1902, the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad company bought the land from Helen Stewart. This included most of what is now downtown Las Vegas.
Saving the Fort for the Future
Over the years, the fort and its land changed owners many times. It almost faced destruction more than once. In 1955, the Las Vegas Elks group bought the land.
With help from the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, the city of Las Vegas bought the fort in 1989. Finally, in 1991, the state of Nevada took over the site. This made it a state park, ensuring its long-term protection.
In 2005, the park got a big upgrade. A $4.5 million renovation was completed, including a new visitor center. This center helps explain the fort's amazing history to everyone who visits.
Other Interesting Places to See
- Mormon Station State Historic Park
- Las Vegas Mission
- Fort Lemhi
- Fort Supply - another Mormon fort with a similar purpose
- List of the oldest buildings in Nevada
