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Article Series: Las Vegas
What Must I See In Las Vegas?
The
History of Las Vegas - Sin City
Talk
to anyone about Las Vegas and the immediate gut reaction
you are most likely to receive is either one of dreamy
enthusiasm about a city where anything goes,
or it is a somewhat thinly veiled disgust at the perceived
looseness of Sin City. Yet did you know that before Las
Vegas became a hot property in the Nevada desert it was
little more than a small town that saw its fair share of
tumbleweeds blowing through? Even after the legalization
of gambling it did not become a hot commodity.
As
a matter of fact, what put Las Vegas on the map was the
1936 completion of the Hoover Dam, which is an outstanding
monument to construction skill and know how even for today’s
standards. Not only does the structure help in providing
electricity to Arizona, California and Nevada, but the
tragic deaths of 96 people involved with the planning and
building of the dam gave it a certain aura of mystique
that has caused many visitors to come just to see the monument
that exacted such a high cost in human life.
Yet
it was not until the 1941 that famous mobster Bugsy Siegel
saw the potential of Las Vegas as a gambling town. He is
responsible with the building of the
famed – and notorious – Flamingo Casino, which was completed
in 1946. The project was marred from the beginning by Siegel’s
inexperience, driving up construction costs to well over
$6 million. Surprisingly, the venture was a complete flop,
and Siegel was murdered by his mob buddies in response.
Gambling was still legal and sought after, but back at the
old address of Fremont Street. While the
beginnings of the famous Las Vegas Strip were less than promising,
the idea was never quite put to rest. Yet it would take until
1968 for another developer to not only see the potential of
the Strip but to actually act on it. Kirk Kerkorian is undeniably
tied to not only Las Vegas’ history as the inventor of what
could be considered the luxurious gambling resort, but also
to American tourism for his vision of turning humble Las Vegas
into a gambling Mecca that not only caters to the gambling
clientele, but to the whims of a large variety of travelers.
At
first Mr. Kerkorian purchased a piece of property across
the street from the Flamingo where he built Caesar’s Palace.
After selling the property in 1968, he not only built what
today is known as the Las Vegas Hilton, but he also purchased
the Flamingo. From then on, Mr. Kerkorian proceeded to
shape Las Vegas’ looks and future by creating the MGM Grand
Hotel and Casino, which then went on to create a snowball
effect on the Vegas Strip with the creation and improvement
of several of the largest properties.
Today
Las Vegas has taken its rightful place in the annals of
history as being the most sought after vacation destination
for those who enjoy a quick roll of
the dice, fantastic food choices, and also themed resorts.
While Las Vegas for a while attempted to front a family
friendly image, Sin City has long since conceded that it
is indeed a playground for adults, and not for children.
While there are babysitting services available for those
who insist on bringing their kids, not a lot of development
dollars are being spent on facilitating entertainment options
for
children. Nonetheless, the city has a regular draw and
many visitors bring repeat business to the casinos and
hotels.
Thus, the gambling industry is not the only aspect of Nevada’s
economy that is being enriched. As a matter of fact, transportation,
hospitality, and even retail have experienced a huge upswing
in the wake of eager tourists spending their vacation dollars
in Vegas.
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2008
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