History

Despite centuries of fires, busted towns, and urban redevelopment, Nevada is still packed with historic structures. Not only do these buildings stand the test of time, each one also tells a unique part of the state’s story—and all are worth visiting. Note that the structures in this list aren’t necessarily the oldest around, but they are the ones we recommend making a detour for. 

Nevada is known for many things: Las Vegas, mining, and wide-open spaces, for example. While some people may be aware, it’s perhaps less known that the state is home to more ghost towns than currently populated ones. Many states have ghost towns, but here, there are more than 600 spread across the desert landscape. That figure outnumbers populated towns almost five-to-one, based on the approximately 175 zip-coded locales in the state. So just how did Nevada end up with so many places no one wanted to call home any longer? And what is a ghost town, exactly? Are there really “living” ghost towns? Read on for the answers to these questions and more.

The Golden Age of Las Vegas—roughly 1930-1960—was a time when the city sluffed off its Wild West origins and burgeoned into the glitz and glam era it’s still known for today. The transformation began amid the Great Depression, when the construction of the Hoover Dam brought a surge of workers. The population of Vegas was around 5,000 in 1931, but after the dam was announced, it grew to about 25,000 with people coming in droves for the promise of work.  Coincidentally, Nevada passed two laws in 1931 that would forever change the way the state would attract visitors: legalized gambling and six-week divorces. In 1932—the first full year of dam construction—more than 200,000 people visited Las Vegas. Two years later, that number was a quarter of a million people. It was a sign of things to come. 

Combine a tour of the city’s historic buildings with some of its hippest restaurants and watering holes. These establishments often boast up to a century (or more) of civic pride, but their menus keep it fresh, innovative, and mouthwatering!

Lincoln Hall is steeped in mystery, history, and tales of the unexplained. While most souls who entered this 125-year-old dormitory eventually moved on with their lives, not all did. Discover the stories of the past, and learn how you can visit one of the state's most famous university buildings.

For five months in 1955, Las Vegas’ Westside District was an unlikely center of African American entertainment, culture, and optimism. The source was the city’s new Moulin Rouge Hotel, which opened at a time when racism was rampant across the nation.   

Everyone knows about the popular carnival ride, but did you know it was inspired by a water wheel on Nevada’s Carson River?

When a sudden cloudburst bursts over the small towns of Seven Troughs and Mazuma, residents had only seconds to evacuate out of the raging torrent. After the flood waters rushed through the canyon, a town was completely destroyed.