History

The West’s great camel experiment sought to bring Mother Nature’s irritable, spitting, cactus-eating off-road vehicle to the mines and mountains of Nevada.The great desert of the West beckoned explorers, exploiters and settlers throughout the 19th century.

August is a restless time in Southern Nevada: It’s ridiculously hot and the novelty of summer vacation wore off back in, what, late June? Luckily, there are plentiful regional museums nearby to entertain the historian, the burgeoning artist, the high-score-obsessed arcade geek and, for that matter, just about anyone who wants to find a way to add a few brain-fortifying excursions to their late-summer agenda. The Lost City Museum in Overton, Nevada (721 S.

Nevada’s lax marriage and divorce laws have made for memorable hookups, breakups and romantic shake-ups In 1931, in the throes of the Great Depression, the Nevada Legislature staked our state’s future on sin — divorce, gambling, easy marriage — as a way to draw tourists and their dollars. It was a bold move.

In Las Vegas, pioneering black architect Paul Revere Williams challenged established thinking and challenged himself African-American architect Paul Revere Williams achieved international success in a profession that had very few black practitioners. Known for his restraint and elegance, he made a name for himself designing Colonial and Tudor-revival Hollywood mansions for well-known celebrities such as Frank Sinatra and Desi Arnaz.

How to rebuild a classic casino on a shoestring budget? The Riviera attempts to blend upscale touches, grind-joint virtues and international savvy Talk a few minutes with Riviera hotel-casino CEO Andy Choy and you’ll hear the word “authentic” — frequently. It’s the 36-year-old casino boss’s mantra.

A year after the reclusive eccentric’s death, the fight for the estate of Huguette Clark continues to generate headlines — and it’s all thanks to Las Vegas A massive fortune made in Clark County is slowly being scattered to the four winds, in accordance with what is surely among the most hotly disputed wills of the 21st century. Reclusive heiress Huguette Clark, daughter of the man who literally sold Las Vegas, died on May 24, 2011, a fortnight shy of her 105th birthday.

When the Flamingo opened, Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel was so determined to be classy that he required the staff to wear tuxedoes. One day, or so the story went in “The Green Felt Jungle,” he found a man clad in a tuxedo relaxing on a chaise lounge.

Bill Harrah changed the face of gaming — very quietly. Why aren’t we celebrating this unassuming innovator? Even in his day, Bill Harrah was an enigma.

Don't dismiss Vegas' classic urban form. You'll love strip malls after this tour that traces the DNA of an emerging new cityThe pearly glitz of the Las Vegas Strip should not cause us to neglect all of Las Vegas' other strips.

Many of Southern Nevada's cultural institutions have roots in the historic Mesquite Club, the women's organization that does much more than afternoon teaNearly 100 years ago, a group of Las Vegas women gathered for tea. The city hasn't been the same since.