Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Long before the hotels and casinos, Las Vegas was just a small creek in the Mojave Desert, and the home to the Southern Paiute. The availability of water made it a popular stop along several trails to California, including the Old Spanish Trail, and in 1855 Las Vegas was settled by thirty Mormon pioneers.
The settlers had a rough time trying to survive in Las Vegas, and most left after only a couple of years, but the fort they built played an important role in the continued growth of Las Vegas. The fort they built, is also now the oldest building in Nevada.
Over the years the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort has served as a ranch, a concrete testing lab for the Hoover Dam, a residence, a restaurant, and now a state park.
In this video we explore the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Part and examine the history of Las Vegas (and Los Vegas).
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►Join us on Patreon: patreon.com/SidetrackAdventures
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►Also please follow Sidetrack Adventures on Instagram: instagram.com/sidetrackadventures
►Music in this video is from Epidemic Sounds; use our link for a free trial: share.epidemicsound.com/v927fj
Long before the hotels and casinos, Las Vegas was just a small creek in the Mojave Desert, and the home to the Southern Paiute. The availability of water made it a popular stop along several trails to California, including the Old Spanish Trail, and in 1855 Las Vegas was settled by thirty Mormon pioneers.
The settlers had a rough time trying to survive in Las Vegas, and most left after only a couple of years, but the fort they built played an important role in the continued growth of Las Vegas. The fort they built, is also now the oldest building in Nevada.
Over the years the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort has served as a ranch, a concrete testing lab for the Hoover Dam, a residence, a restaurant, and now a state park.
In this video we explore the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Part and examine the history of Las Vegas (and Los Vegas).
○ Gear we use: amazon.com/shop/sidetrackadventures
►Join us on Patreon: patreon.com/SidetrackAdventures
►Please subscribe for weekly updates showcasing some of our adventures: youtube.com/channel/UCdueDRFYPVgzPAAOM_bxVWA?sub_confirmation=1
►Also please follow Sidetrack Adventures on Instagram: instagram.com/sidetrackadventures
►Music in this video is from Epidemic Sounds; use our link for a free trial: share.epidemicsound.com/v927fj
