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"Old
Las
Vegas" by Paul McGehee. A late afternoon view of the future gaming
and entertainment capital of the world, looking west down Fremont
Street in 1916. Las Vegas, Nevada was founded as a city in 1905, when
110 acres of land adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks were
auctioned in what would become the downtown area. In 1911, Las Vegas
was incorporated as a city. The original mission-style train station
can be seen in the middle of this view, at the end of Fremont Street.
Vegas was a relatively sleepy western town until the 1930s when
gambling was legalized by the state of Nevada. In the same time period,
the construction of the nearby Boulder Dam (later Hoover Dam) brought
an influx of workers to live in the burgeoning city, which bolstered
the economy of the region through the difficult years of the Great
Depression. The second World War brought the establishment of the Las
Vegas Army Air Corps Gunnery School, now known as Nellis Air Force Base.
Following World War II, a series of hotels and casinos were built and
attracted the well-to-do of the Hollywood scene. Las Vegas quickly
became famous not only for its casinos but as a venue where one could
see the performances of many well-known entertainers. Today, with its
resorts, gaming and quality entertainment, Las Vegas has grown into one
of the top tourist destinations in the world. "Old
Las Vegas" is faithfully reproduced from Paul's original color pencil
drawing as an archival quality print issued in a strictly limited
edition of only 2,000 pieces each hand-signed by the artist.
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