About Old Las Vegas State Historic Park
Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort, built in 1855 by Mormon missionaries, is the first permanent non-native settlement in the Las Vegas Valley. The 22,000-square-foot adobe fort was constructed along a spring-fed creek—the only reliable water source for miles—which supported agriculture and served as a way station for travelers on the Old Spanish Trail. The site, now located in downtown Las Vegas, preserves the original fort structure and contains historic artifacts.
A Visitor Center features exhibits and photographs documenting the fort’s history and the region’s early settlement. The surrounding area, once part of the Mohave Desert with native Creosote Bush vegetation, was significantly altered by historic land clearing. The creek’s presence attracted Native Paiute people and passing traders, who named the area “las vegas” for its meadows. Disturbing or removing any natural or historic features is prohibited under state and federal law.