Product Description
Writing with verve and clarity, Mary Hill tells the story of the magnificent Sierra Nevada--the longest, highest, and most spectacular mountain range in the contiguous United States. Hill takes us from the time before the land which would be California even existed, through the days of roaring volcanoes, violent earthquakes, and chilling ice sheets, to the more recent history of the Sierra's early explorers and the generations of adventuresome souls who followed.
The author introduces the rocks of the Sierra Nevada, which tell the mountains' tale, and explains how nature's forces, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, faulting, erosion, and glaciation formed the range's world-renowned scenery and mineral wealth, including gold.
For thirty years, the first edition of Geology of the Sierra Nevada has been the definitive guide to the Sierra Nevada's geological history for nature lovers, travelers, hikers, campers, and armchair explorers. This new edition offers new chapters and sidebars and incorporates the concept of plate tectonics throughout the text.
* Written in easy-to-understand language for a wide audience.
* Gives detailed information on where to view outstanding Sierra Nevada geology in some of the world's most beloved natural treasures and national parks, including Yosemite.
* Provides specific information on places to see glaciers and glacial deposits, caves, and exhibits of gold mines and mining equipment, many from Gold Rush times.
* Superbly illustrated with 117 new color illustrations, 16 halftones, 39 line illustrations, and 12 maps, and also features an easy-to-use, interactive key for identifying rocks and a glossary of geological terms. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Excellent book
I found this book very useful and insightful for the non-specialist (I have a background in physics and engineering but not in geology). Among other things, not only it describes in detail the geologic history of the Sierra nevada, but, also, in lay terms, it explains many fundamental concepts of geology. It even gives you a "recipe" to identify rock types using a hand lens, vinegar, and a tool to scratch the rocks. I recommend it highly.

An excellent overview of the geology of the Sierra Nevada Mountains
I own a copy of the first edition of this book which has been the definitive work on the subject for nearly thirty years. I purchased it at the gift shop at Sutter Gold Mine while on a fieldtrip with my daughter's class. Geology has always been a bit of an amateur interest for me and this book provides an excellent introduction and overview to the geologic forces which have created the Sierra Nevada mountain range with particular focus on the Yosemite Valley, Devils Postpile and other primary geologic features in the range as well as the volcanoes in California such as Mount Shasta and Mt. Lassen. The book is written in language that makes the topic accessible to all. Professional geologists might desire something more technical and lengthy, but this book fits nicely into a backpack to serve as a reference while hiking the gorgeous Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Geology of the Sierra Nevada
This is an excellent review of the complicated and interesting geology of California's Sierra Nevada.
I particularly liked the section at the beginning of the book, a step-by-step process to identify different rocks. The steps are easy to understand and execute, even for a layman.
Another useful feature of the book is the set of maps showing locations where one can find each different rock type.
The book outlines geological processes (such as volcanism and plate tectonics) and features (e.g., fault lines), and explaines how the present Sierra Nevada was formed.
One particularly useful feature of the volume is that its size and weight allows that a hiker or a climber or a backpacker can carry it with him or her.

Excellent read, very good field guide
Geology of the Sierra Nevada (California Natural History Guides)

I enjoy science books that take a historical approach, explaining when and how the facts were determined.This approach brings science to life.Besides the historical information, this book is a comprehensive reference that I will carry with me on hikes in the Sierras.

Teachers reference
This is a nice reference source for general geologic information on Sierra Nevada. A definite improvement over the last edition, worth the replacement cost. Too bulky for a field guide unless you like spending your outing buried in a book, but is a great size for student use in class. The breadth of topics is excellent, and material is up to date (not all books available are). For anyone who needs exposure to Sierra Nevada geology, this is a good supplement to the Harden Book ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

EverythingOne Needs to Know AboutPioneer Spirit
I wrote a review of this book in Feb. 2002 and gave it only four stars and mentioned that I felt something was missing. I must have been having a bad day buried in research for my own book on the matter without much luck. I have since re-visited the book, and with time and more knowlege I find very little to anything missing at all. In fact, in the re-reading it has taken me back to many pleasant memories, having lived in Railroad Valley in the'80s, And in all of my subsiquent reasearch I have to say this book is thedefinitive book of everything one needs to know about the history of Railroad Valley and its undying Pioneer Spirit. A good read with an enormous amout of factual refrences. I highly recomend this book for the curious as well as the academic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

THE Source for Nevada Railroading
Railroads of Nevada and Eastern California is the premier work on transportation in the Silver State. The photos are suprb, the text inclusive and the maps are a must for rail buffs and modellers seeking authenticity. I have owned this set for 35 years and it is nearly worn out from reference. The section on the southern roads is espcially well researched. I have been able to relocate features and buildings from Myrick's maps alone.

David Myrick did an excellent job of weaving history with technology in this readable work. Profusely illustrated, it connects time, place, and Nevada's colorful mining history together in a delightful fabric. The research appears flawless, as I have yet to find contradictory evidence in the several areas I have delved into. Reading the stories, one obtains a feel for the flow of commerce, the excitement of new discoveries, the character of the players in this real-life American drama. Detailed discussions of railroad technology, planning, construction, finance, and operations make this a delightful research tool.

The binding and printing are excellent, with beautiful crisp type and exceptionally clear photgraphs.

Overall, this set is a MUST for any serious student of Nevada railroads. Well worth the cost at todays price. ... Read more

Product Description
This best-selling and entertaining history of Las Vegas has been updated to reflect the city’s tremendous growth and change in recent years.

Today’s Las Vegas welcomes 35 million visitors a year and reigns as the world’s premier gaming mecca. But it is much more than a gambling paradise. In A Short History of Las Vegas, Barbara and Myrick Land reveal a fascinating history beyond the mobsters, casinos, and showgirls. The Lands present a complete story, beginning with southern Nevada’s indigenous peoples and the earliest explorers to the first pioneers to settle in the area; from the importance of the railroad and the construction of Hoover Dam to the arrival of the Mob after World War II; from the first isolated resorts to appear in the dusty desert to the upscale, extravagant theme resorts of today. Las Vegas—and its history—is full of surprises.

The second edition of this lively history includes details of the latest developments and describes the growing anticipation surrounding the Las Vegas centennial celebration in 2005. New chapters focus on the recent implosions of famous old structures and the construction of glamorous new developments, headline-making mergers and multibillion-dollar deals involving famous Strip properties, and a concluding look at what life is like for the nearly two million residents who call Las Vegas home. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A great short history for someone who just wants a peek!
This history of Las Vegas is indeed short but more important than that, nearly every page is interesting and entertaining.I was not all that impressed with the final chapter about what there is to do and see outside the city which is why this book only gets 4 stars instead of 5.That last chapter seemed misplaced in this book.But the entire rest of the book which tells the history of the city is wonderful.It gives you all the most interesting stories and information without overdoing it.It is just enough for someone who wants an overview of the city but isn't all that interested in becoming an expert.

Short, Sweet and Mostly Complete History
The Lands have an easy, breezy writing style.In particular they bring the last 100 years of Las Vegas history alive with many photos of the times and observations of citizens and visitors alike who were there. Although they do not discuss the role the divorce business or the wedding industry played in the city's development (and weddings are associated with Vegas almost as much as gaming), the picture of the city presented here is fun and informative. To quote the authors quoting Steve Wynn, "Las Vegas is a party that never stops. God bless this daffy place."

Excellent General History of Sin City
This books gives an general overall history of Las Vegas and its chameleonistic changes over time.From the dawn of mans first wanderings into the Las Vegas area to modern day gambling mecca and suburban success, this book packs a short, but sweet punch into a somewhat short span.This book is good for people interested in Las Vegas history where general Nevada history leaves off,

It may be short but it packs a lot of information
This book is a look back at Las Vegas and the area from prehistoric times to the present.It is very informative and packed with information that history buffs will love.It also explains the evolution of Las Vegas from a western town teetering on the edge of becoming a ghost town to the boom that started with the building of the Hoover (Boulder) Dam and continues today.This book is very academic in nature, so you have to love history to like this book.Overall a very interesting book. ... Read more

Product Description
The shows! The stars! That out of this world big sign! The Stardust of Yesterday takes a look at this Vegas institution which has graced the skyline since 1958. Meet the big names who performed on the stages of the Stardust showroom along with the everyday people who worked behind the scenes.

* Foreword by famed magicians Siegfried and Roy who got their big break at the Stardust.

* Full of historical and contemporary photographs of the casino from its creation to the present. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Stardust Legend
As a kid my parents and my grandmother loved to go to Vegas. They must have went like once every other month and they usually stayed for a weekend. There was a small handful of casinos that they liked to visit, and one of them was the Stardust. So my memeories of this place run deep.

So I was saddened to find out that the Stardust was already closed when I returned to Vegas in 2007. In this book you will find many colorful photos illustrating the rich and eventful history of this wonderful casino. I enjoyed seeing photos of old menus such as Toucan Harry's and even old match booklets. I wanted a little more out of this book as far as the writing goes, but still overall a nice keepsake of an old friend.

Stardust of yesterday Las Vegas
My family went to Stardust at Las Vegas,NV from 1993 to 1996. I know Toucan Harry's restuarant. I saw Tony Roma's restuarant at stardust hotel and casino. I know Stardust Las Vegas closed Novemeber 1,2006 then demolished March 13,2007 before Echelon Place constrution. I remember Stardust Las Vegas from 1993 to 1996. I know new Echelon Place late 2010. I feel nearly 5,000 room Echelon Place (former Stardust Las Vegas). I know Stardust west tower build in 1991. I know Lido de Paris replace by Enter the Night at Stardust Las Vegas in 1992 before change to Wayne Newton in 1999. I know Stardust Las Vegas red and blue to white in late 1998.

The "Dust"
I stayed at the "Dust" in the late 1960's and I always went back.If you ever stayed, you'll love this book.It covers all the TIMES, evn Lefty Rosenthal's time.If you look close, you'll see the current(2008) mayor Oscar Goodman at the defense table for Lefty.Mayor Goodman was Lefty's mouthpiece in the early days.Best of Times in Vegas and best wishes.
St Louis Frank www.7dice7.com

A Good Book With A Large History Of Pictures.
I actually bought this book in the lobby of the Stardust a week before it closed.Initially, I found it morbid that they already spoke of the Stardust in past tense about what a shame it was gone as I sat in my hotel room... in the Stardust.It was like talking about someone in past tense while they're in the room listening to your conversation, not quite as dead as conversation would lead one to believe.

That aside, the book tells a lot of history of the hotel/casino, and is filled with lots of great pictures and fond memories of guests and employees of the Stardust.The book covers a lot of behind-the-scenes aspects of the casino, the shows that ran during its existence, and the celebrities which frequented the casino.

I think the saddest part of the book was the fact that it really did point out how innovative the Stardust was in changing the face of entertainment on the Strip.Such a great hotel with a lot of personality, closed down to make way for yet another casino/hotel/condo/mall hybrid Vegas seems so intent on placing all over the Strip in lieu of everything else these days.

Since buying the book, I've been back to Vegas, and now the Stardust is indeed closed in the past tense, and torn apart in a lot of places to be readied for implosion.After reading the book and looking at the ruins, I found a bittersweet sense of admiration for a casino that seemed to be so important to so many people, and now is shortly about to be wiped away from existence forever.

An interesting and sentimental read for those who enjoy the history of 1950's Vegas and enjoyed the casino itself. ... Read more

Product Description
Author and researcher Helen Carlson spent almost fourteen years in her search for the origins of Nevada's place names, using the maps of explorers, miners, government surveyors, and city planners and poring through historical accounts, archival documents, county records, and newspaper files. The result of her labors is Nevada Place Names, a fascinating mixture of history spiced with folklore, legend, and obscure facts. A reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Nevada Places and Names
Great book for the history of old ruins I come across while traveling the back roads of Nevada.

A well deserved praise for research
I read this book as a father who wants to take his family on occasional trips around the state where I reside. I also like to know the meaning of names in our own area. Helen does an excellent job of research and concise, factual, and intriguing reporting of what is to be known about a Nevada name. It is alphabetically organized and even the introduction, as brief as it is, is rich in the equipping of the reader with Nevada history. This book is a treasure alongside a gazeteer and or atlas of the state of Nevada.

Excellent reference and history source
I found this book to be an excellent reference source for points within the State of Nevada; both in the present and past. A very thorough work product. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A hint of environmentalism in the Great Basin
States of the Great Basin are noted for their opposition to environmental (or any other) regulation.James Hulse's history of environmental plunder in Nevada, and the few recent attempts at protection or alleviation, adds nice detail to this general impression.The next few years will likely see great controversy over the exploitation of solar and other renewable energy resources in the desert Southwest.This book gives fine background for understanding the battles of the coming decade.

A fine read for those concerned with the nation's environmental health
Nevada is not known for its environment, but with huge cities like Las Vegas, Reno, and Carson, its environment is under constant strain. "Nevada's Environmental Legacy: Progress or Plunder" investigates Nevada's natural landscape, and how it's under constant threat from many sources. From rampant logging to nuclear weapon testing, Nevada may truly become a desert wasteland if someone doesn't intervene. Informing Americans of a problem that is often ignored, "Nevada's Environmental Legacy" is a fine read for those concerned with the nation's environmental health.
... Read more

Product Description
John Muir called it the "Range of Light, the most divinely beautiful of all the mountain chains I've ever seen." The Sierra Nevada--a single unbroken mountain range stretching north to south over four hundred miles, best understood as a single ecosystem but embracing a number of environmental communities--has been the site of human activity for millennia. From the efforts of ancient Native Americans to encourage game animals by burning brush to create meadows to the burgeoning resort and residential development of the present, the Sierra has endured, and often suffered from, the efforts of humans to exploit its bountiful resources for their own benefit.

Historian David Beesley examines the history of the Sierra Nevada from earliest times, beginning with a comprehensive discussion of the geologic development of the range and its various ecological communities. Using a wide range of sources, including the records of explorers and early settlers, scientific and government documents, and newspaper reports, Beesley offers a lively and informed account of the history, environmental challenges, and political controversies that lie behind the breathtaking scenery of the Sierra.

Among the highlights are discussions of the impact of the Gold Rush and later mining efforts, as well as the supporting industries that mining spawned, including logging, grazing, water-resource development, market hunting, urbanization, and transportation; the politics and emotions surrounding the establishment of Yosemite and other state and national parks; the transformation of the Hetch Hetchy into a reservoir and the desertification of the once-lush Owens Valley; the roles of the Forest Service, Park Service, and other regulatory agencies; the consequences of the fateful commitment to wildfire suppression in Sierran forests; and the ever-growing impact of tourism and recreational use. Through Beesley's wide-ranging discussion, John Muir's "divinely beautiful" range is revealed in all its natural and economic complexity, a place that at the beginning of the twenty-first century is in grave danger of being loved to death. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An extensively researched history, sporting a wealth of notes, a thorough bibliography, and an index
Written by history teacher David Beesley, who served as an associate of the Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project and presented part of its report to Congress, Crow's Range: A Environmental History of the Sierra Nevada is an amazing chronicle of the Sierra Nevada mountain range that stretches across four hundred miles of California and Nevada. Chapters discuss the impact that native people, the gold rush, conservation efforts, and modern ecosystem politics have had upon these majestic mountains throughout history, especially during the mid-1800's to the modern day. An extensively researched history, sporting a wealth of notes, a thorough bibliography, and an index, Crow's Range is an enthusiastically recommended historical resource for lay readers and environmentalists alike. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

A welcome addition to Judaic studies shelves
John P. Marschall (Emeritus Professor of History, University of Nevada, Reno) presents Jews in Nevada: A History, a scholarly volume that indubitably lives up to its title. Chapters cover 1850 to the modern day, evaluating the history of Nevada's Jews more or less chronologically; especial interest is paid to "Antisemitism in the Twentieth Century" and "Civil Rights and Uncommon Causes". "Nevada has a chance to shape a revival of Jewish culture and religion in the West at a time when prophets of doom point only to national decline. Las Vegas's recent growth and expansion of a Jewish infrastructure and its ability to exert a supportive influence to northern Nevada will be the tipping points of success or failure. Proponents of a more robust Jewry in Nevada may be comforted or perplexed knowing that Las Vegas once had a Jewish major who prayed as well as he cursed and who, on the feast of purim, may not have known the difference between the villain Haman and Mordechai the hero." A welcome addition to Judaic studies shelves, as well as Nevada state history shelves. ... Read more

Product Description
From DJ Flap - George Wingfield was a major figure in the early decades of the twentieth century, and his legacy is felt throughout the state today. He became a significant power in Nevada partly because he remained in the state with all of his money instead of leaving as other millionaires had done. His authority gradually reshaped the state. (Description by http-mart) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

RAILROADS OF NEVADA VOLUME 2
GREAT BOOK BY A GREAT AUTHOR. FOR A RAILFAN INTERESTED IN HISTORY OF AN INDUSTRY I LOVE. THIS IS ONE OF MYRICKS BEST. HE HAS WRITTEN 5 VOLUMES OF THE RAILROADS OF ARIZONA AFTER THESE 2 OF NEVADA. PHOTOS ARE THE BEST. SEEING THE PHOTOS OF A LOST TIME BRING GOOSE BUMPS TO AN AVID READER. ... Read more

Product Description
The town of Reno grew into "The Biggest Little City in the World" with the help of four casino pioneers: Nick Abelman, Bill Graham, Jim McKay, and George Wingfield. These men of the green cloth took the millions they dug up in Central Nevada boomtowns like Tonopah and Goldfield, and settled into Reno and Lake Tahoe Nevada to change the face of casinos forever.Long before Bill Harrah ever heard of Reno, these four men held sway over the town of Reno through hard work, intimidation, and treachery. Banks were plundered, stocks were swindled, and friends like Alvin Karpis, the Barker Gang, and “Baby Face” Nelson came to visit – and help when they could. Sixty-years of Nevada gaming is found here in The Roots of Reno. ... Read more

Product Description
The first comprehensive treatment of Comstock society to incorporate mining history with the stories of the people who lived it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An excellent history of Virginia City
I am a resident of Nevada and read a lot of history.Recently I have read a lot of books on Nevada history, and I must say this is one of the best.Thoroughly researched and footnoted, it covers almost every aspect of Virginia City history, yet is eminently readable.Some history books are too dry and dusty, and you have to plow through them (or give up), but Mr. James' book holds your interest from beginning to end.If you are interested in the history of VC, this is the one to buy!

THE must read book on the history of the Comstock
Mr. James cuts through all of the legends that have grown up around Virginia City and its fabled Comstock Lode to give us a truly outstanding and eminently readable history.He draws together primary and secondary sources, demographic analysis and archaeology to give the reader a broad, yet surprisingly detailed understanding of the Comstock from its humble beginnings, through bonanza and borrasca, and right up to the present day.Highly recommended!!

Of very good historical value
Thoroughly enjoyed reading each chapter of Mr.James' book. I would suggest it for anyone having an interest in the old West, the mining periods, and personnae of the same, and perhaps just as importantly to gain someinsightful information behind the storefornt facades and adits of VirginiaCity. The author has provided much background behind the legends, pulleddown to earth other "legends" and truly given this "touristsite" it's legitmate and historical due. I am anxious to visit theLake Tahoe area once again and take that little jaunt over the hill tovisit a now-less-mysterious Virginia City. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Exciting at the beginning
I read the 2nd Edition, Revised, of this book and the account of Nevada from 1860 to 1900 was exciting because Nevada was a weird and exciting place during those years.but I did not find the account of 20th century Nevada too interesting, even tho the book devotes full attention to the political history of the state, which I would ordinarily have thought would guarantee my finding this a good book.For a really good state history, read History of North Dakota, by Elwyn B. Robinson.I found that state history (I am not from either Nev. or ND) unputdownable. ... Read more

Product Description
"I realized early on that you had to be true to your convictions, even if it meant you might not win the next election."

When Reno Republican Barbara Vucanovich was elected to Congress in 1982, she became the first Nevada woman ever elected to a federal office, and the first person to represent Nevada’s newly created Second Congressional District. Campaigning as a "tough grandmother," she distinguished herself during her fourteen-year service in the U.S. House of Representatives by her indefatigable efforts on behalf of her state, her commitment to the conservative ideals of her party and the needs of her constituency, and her commonsensical approach to politics and her own life.

In this engaging, richly informative memoir, Vucanovich reflects with candor and modesty on her political career and the long road that led to it - her years as mother of a growing family, businesswoman, and community and Republican Party volunteer, and her introduction to politics as the Northern Nevada manager of several of Paul Laxalt’s campaigns. Encouraged by Laxalt to run for Nevada’s new congressional seat, she became a sixty-one-year-old first-time political candidate.

Vucanovich’s lively accounts of campaigning and office-holding offer a rare insider’s view of the day-to-day realities of a political career - the excitement and exhaustion of hard-fought campaigns; the endless cross-country commutes to maintain contact with constituents; the inner workings of Congress as bills are written, debated, and voted on. Her profiles of other politicians, from Reno city leaders to Nevada state and national officeholders to her congressional colleagues to presidents of the U.S., offer valuable insight into the personalities and politics of some of the most important American political figures of the past half century. This is a book that offers any reader, of whatever political persuasion, an exceptionally vivid account of politics on both the state and national levels during a notably turbulent era. ... Read more

Product Description
DESCRIPTION: From well-heeled mobsters and glamorous showgirls, fantastical mega-casinos and dazzling displays of neon, Las Vegas is the world’s most famous monument to reckless abandon and unbridled excess.

Written in conjunction with the PBS American Experience series and coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the founding of the city, Las Vegas: An Unconventional History documents the often surprising and endlessly entertaining history of America’s most outrageous playground. The story ranges from the Mormon missionaries who came to the area for the natural springs, to the shady, mob-connected gamblers and cardsharps who built and ruled the city, from the eccentric and visionary millionaires who bought up casinos like penny candy, to the visitors who have flocked to this desert mecca for more than a century.

Accompanying the text are essays by four of today’s most prominent writers: Dave Hickey’s ruminations on Vegas’s unique brand of freedom and democracy, Marc Cooper’s reminiscence of a wild night playing blackjack at the Stardust—with his mother, Max Rudin’s meditations on the roots of Rat Pack cool, and Jim McManus’s musings on the art and little-known history of poker.

With lavish illustrations and lively prose, Las Vegas: An Unconventional History is as surprising as an inside straight and as satisfying as hitting 7 or 11 on your come-out roll. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great "Wedding Guest" Book!
... and an awesome book in and of itself.

I was recently married, and my then fiance (now husband) and I wanted a non-traditional guest book for the reception. Since our wedding was in Las Vegas (although on a private lake off-strip), we thought that a coffee table book about Las Vegas would be an awesome idea. So I looked at the books that Amazon had to offer, comparing reviews, content, and size, and decided on this one -- and it was a perfect choice!

The book is full of fascinating facts about the history of Las Vegas. The pages are thick, the book itself a wonderful 'coffee table book' size, and overall well constructed. Thanks to these things, combined with the notes and signatures of our wedding guests, we now have a priceless guest book that we can proudly display on our coffee table for years to come.

A note on Amazon's Customer Service:

We ordered this book only about a week prior to our departure for Las Vegas. The first book arrived in minimal packaging that did not protect the book completely - there were some dings and a tear on the slip cover - something that I normally would not complain about. However, in this situation, I did send a message to Amazon about the damaged book and requested that a new one be sent to us in more substantial packaging. Two days later, there it was, a perfect copy, in a larger box with more 'padding', just in time to pack and and bring with us to Las Vegas!

*This* is why I shop at Amazon.com. Thank you, Amazon!

Vegas groupies, here it is
I love Las Vegas, even as a non-gambler. It was great to learn the background and the very roots of "Sin City". This book will tell you volumes about the history and current development of Las Vegas, a truly unique spot on the globe, to which we return again and again to see shows and experience new restaurants, and generally get a "big-city" fix. A great guide to Vegas......

Great book!
Gave this as a gift so I didn't read it, but seemed very nice.Thick hardcover.Did not appear cheap.

Strongly Recommended
I bought this book about a year ago when I moved to Las Vegas.It is an extremely interesting and thorough history of the town and it is an easy read.Great reference material for my library.I couldn't put it down.Definitely worth the $40 I paid - a steal at the bargain price.

Interesting!
"Las Vegas" provides interesting photos and verbiage covering Las Vegas from its initial start, through the building of Boulder/Hoover Dam, establishment as a "suburb" of L.A., attraction for "quickie" (6 week) divorces, the mob's influx, atomic testing, the "Rat Pack," attraction as a "marriage mill," Howard Hughes, Steven Wynn, imploding old landmarks, and finally the building of new hotels with unique tourist attractions (eg. volcano, pirate ship, art displays, fountains).

Ives also provides several interesting statistical tidbits - Las Vegas slot machines have paid out as much as $40 million to a single winner, and by '04 provided about 2/3 of Las Vegas casino revenue; in '76 nearly half the gross revenue of the 163-hotel Hilton chain came from its 2 L.V. properties; L.V. has 20 of the world's largest 23 hotels; and during the '90s non-gambling revenues began exceeding gambling revenues in Las Vegas. ... Read more