Las Vegas is known the world over as a mecca for those in hot pursuit of pleasure, pampering, and unbridled glamour – a far cry from the city’s humble beginnings as little more than a Mormon settlement. Surprised? That’s understandable considering the Las Vegas flair for reinventing itself as often as the Mojave’s sands shift. 

 After being abandoned by the Mormon settlers in 1857, the desert town was briefly used as a railroad repair stop until the 1922 rail strike. In the 60s and 70s Vegas gradually morphed into the Sin City all your favorite movie mobsters know and love, with the next reinvention unofficially overseen by Howard Hughes in the 60s and 70s when he decided to buy the Desert Inn (followed by another 4 casino properties) after being asked to leave by the hotel’s owners.

 Vegas has demolished itself and risen from the dust clouds time and time again like some enticing neon phoenix. After the devastating events of 9/11, the city was struck by the inevitable economic impact of the disaster; hotels struggled to maintain occupancy rates, thousands lost their jobs, and the economic crash that followed left things looking grim. It wasn’t long, however, before the city bounced back with new developments, lower unemployment rates, and an optimism, resilience, and ability to reinvent itself which is unmistakably American. The next time you’re gazing (and staying) at stunning Las Vegas hotels, remember that if it’s the city’s history you’re after, a little digging is all that’s needed.

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