History

Las Vegas started as a stopover on the pioneer trails to the west, and became a popular railroad town in the early 20th century. The completion of the nearby Hoover Dam in 1935 resulted in growth in the number of residents and increased tourism. The dam, located 30 mi southeast of the city, formed Lake Mead, the US's largest man-made lake and reservoir.

The legalization of gambling in 1931 led to the advent of the casino hotels for which Las Vegas is famous. Major development occurred in the 1940s, largely due to the influx of scientists and staff from the Manhattan Project, an atomic bomb research project of World War II. Atomic test watching parties were sometimes thrown.

American organized crime figures such as Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel and Meyer Lansky managed or funded most of the original large casinos. Today, Las Vegas recognizes this shady past with "mob" museums focused on this era.  

Weather

The city enjoys abundant sunshine year-round: it has an average of about 300 sunny days per year with more than 3,800 hours of sunshine.

During October, the average high temperature is 80.8 while the average low is 56.5.

Culture

The city is home to several museums including the Neon Museum home to many of the historical signs from the valley, The Las Vegas Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Lied Discovery Children's Museum and the Old Las Vegas Mormon State Historic Park.

On the first Friday of each month, the "First Friday" celebration is held, which exhibits the works of local artists and musicians in a section of the city's Downtown region called the "Arts District".

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts is located downtown in Symphony Park. The center hosts Broadway shows and other major touring attractions as well as orchestra, opera, and dance performances.

Sports

Though Las Vegas does not have any major-league teams, sports plays a large role in the city. Two professional teams call Las Vegas home: the Las Vegas 51s baseball team, the AAA minor-league affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays and the Las Vegas Locos of the United Football League.

Las Vegans get most excited for UNLV athletics, especially Runnin' Rebels basketball. The UNLV basketball team has a rich history of success, including a national championship in 1990.

Source: Las Vegas, Nevada at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas,_Nevada