LAS VEGAS (AP) — Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area near Las Vegas is marking an anniversary.
The Bureau of Land Management says then-President George H. W. Bush signed legislation 25 years ago Monday to create Nevada's first national conservation area.
The scenic area is marked by rugged red rocks, climbing, hiking and picnicking spots.
It's now one of the most popular BLM-managed areas.
Red Rock Canyon covers more than 300 square miles, but most of its 2 million visitors a year are draws to a 13-mile scenic drive about 20 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip.
Records kept by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, say Congress first recognized the site in 1936, when it was included in what is now the Desert National Wildlife Refuge.
A visitor center opened in 1982.