Finding Las Vegas

Las Vegas is known as a city of lights and sights. Many tourists from all over the country and all over the world come and visit it to enjoy the different attractions. However, unlike other tourist destinations, little is known about the history of Las Vegas. It may not seem like it, but Las Vegas has been around for a long time. It celebrated its 100th year of existence last May 15, 2005.

In prehistoric times, the area occupied by Las Vegas today was covered by lots of water. As a result, many kinds of vegetation grew and both plant and animal life flourished. However, as many years went by, the rivers that once flowed all over receded, and could only be found underground. The water was trapped beneath the surface, and the landscape became dry and arid. It was not able to support as much life as it used to. Only those animals who could withstand the heat and survive on minimal water continued to make their home there. However, water from the underground rivers makes its way up to the surface from time to time, giving life to some of these plants and animals. This created an oasis in the middle of an unforgiving desert.

Rafael Rivera, a Mexican scout and a member of a party who was making its way to Los Angeles, discovered the oasis in 1829. The party, led by Antonio Armijo, a trader, was going along the Spanish Trail. However, they went the wrong way and got lost. Rafael Rivera found the Las Vegas Springs when he went into the desert to search for water. Thus, he is said to be the first ever non-Indian to enter Las Vegas.

After the area was discovered by Rafael Rivera, it became a usual stop for Spanish traders on their way to Los Angeles. The water in the oasis replenished their supplies, and consequently eased the burden of having to travel such a long distance. Initially, the area was called “Vegas”, but the name was changed to “Las Vegas”, which means “the meadows” in Spanish, in 1848.

Aside from these Spanish traders, many other groups of people made their way to Las Vegas. The first of these was an expedition led by John C. Fremont 14 years after the discovery. Also, in 1855, a group of Mormons traveled to Las Vegas with the purpose of protecting the Los Angeles to Salt Lake City Mail Route.