Old Las Vegas Mormon State Historic Park
500 E. Washington Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 486-3511
Oldfort@parks.nv.gov

   Old Vegas Mormon State Historic Park is located in downtown Las Vegas, at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Washington Avenue. The park and Visitor Center is open all year from 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.   An entrance fee is charged to enter the fort. Click here for all individual park fees by region (PDF file).

The first permanent non-native settlers in the Las Vegas Valley were a group of Mormon missionaries who built an adobe fort along Las Vegas Creek in 1855.   They successfully farmed the area by diverting water from the creek.  Today, the park includes a remnant of the original adobe fort, which contains interpretive displays.   The Visitor Center contains exhibits on the history of the site, as well as historic artifacts.  Historic interpretation is and will remain the focus of the park.  There are series of programs throughout the summer.  The "Friends of the Fort" also provide a series of programs throughout the year.   For more information about the "Friends of the Fort" arrowclick here.


A flag pole in the Mormon Fort stockade
Park Hours.   The park will be open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Sunday. The park is located at 500 E Washington Avenue in Las Vegas, Nevada.


See Map

2008 Park Programs



New itemVolunteers Needed !  Click here for more information. If interested, contact the park at 702-486-3511 or email Nevada State Parks stparks@parks.nv.gov for a volunteer brochure and application.


Facilities & Amenities
  • Visitor Center 
  • Historic Sites 
Park Origin and History:

The Place Where Las Vegas Began

black and white phot of the tree-lined creek, the Stewart ranch house, and south wll of the old fort as they appeared around 1905 One hundred and fifty years ago, a spring-fed creek flowed through this valley, creating an oasis in the desert. With only free-flowing water and grass for miles around, it attracted the native Paiute people as well as traders, emigrants and gold seekers traveling the Old Spanish Trail to California. The Spaniards called the place Las Vegas B The Meadows.

In June of 1855, William Bringhurst and 29 fellow Mormon missionaries from Utah arrived at this site and began construction of a 150-foot square adobe fort, the first permanent structure erected in the valley. The Mormon outpost, complete with post office, served as a way station for travelers. The creek provided irrigation for fields and orchards. Lead was later discovered in the mountains to the southwest, and the mission was expanded to include mining and smelting, but the effort proved unsuccessful.

After less than 2 years, the Mormon effort was abandoned after dissension arose between two of the local leaders, adding to discouragement of many in the group with the hot summer climate. In 1865, Octavious D. Gass bought the site and developed a large-scale ranch that included a small store and blacksmith shop to serve travelers and produce for nearby mining communities.

In 1881, Gass defaulted on the mortgage note and ownership of the ranch passed to Archibald and Helen Stewart. Although Archibald was killed in a gunfight in 1884, Helen an her father continued to operate the ranch.

In 1902, Helen Stewart sold the ranch and water rights to the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad, and a new town, Las Vegas, sprang into existence in 1905 when the rails reached the valley. From this place, Las Vegas has since expanded to become one of the nation's major metropolitan areas.


The Las Vegas Springs & Creek

black and white photo of traveler resting near the Las Vegas creekIt all started with water. Rising from underground aquifers about for miles west of this point, springs supplied Las Vegas Creek with a year-round supply of water that flowed for several miles before being lost in the desert. For thousands of years the creek was the site of seasonal camps for various groups of native people who hunted the animals and collected the wild plants that grew at this oasis. Later the creek provided early travelers with a welcome place for water and feed.

Starting in 1895, the water was used for irrigating crops and orchards by the Mormons and later ranchers. After the city of Las Vegas was founded in 190, the spring water was diverted into the town's water system and the creek largely dried up.


The Old Fort

black and white photo of the old fort in 1929The original fort built by the Mormons in 1855 consisted of an adobe enclosure, 150 feet on each side, with towers or bastions at the northwest and southeast corners. The adobe building closest to the creek is the only surviving part of this structure. The other walls you see and the bastion at the northeast corner are reconstructions. The building was most recently used as a testing lab and office for the United States bureau of Reclamation, which leased and renovated the building in 1929 during the construction of Hoover Dam. The photo shows the lab in 1929.


The Ranch House

black and white photo of the Stewart Ranch in 1905 In 1865 Octavious D. Gass, a miner from El Dorado Canyon acquired the Mormon fort site and used part of the foundation and walls to build a ranch house. Gass also bought out other landholders to assemble a sizable ranch, and built a store and blacksmith shop to supply travelers.

Later the ranch was taken over by Archibald and Helen Stewart. Mrs. Stewart occupied the ranch house until she sold it to the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Slat Lake Railroad. The building shown above right was used for various purposes until it was demolished in 1966.


Back to State Parks
Image Map

Back to State Parks
Home Page