Format
This presentation uses a photo slideshow to guide participants through the history of Las Vegas. Along the way, the presenter asks questions about the images and historical artifacts presented. This presentation relies on primary source analysis and visual thinking and observation skills.
Major topics explored include the Las Vegas valley's original inhabitants, explorers and mapping the area, the railroad, the construction of Hoover Dam, legalized gambling and the rise of hotel-casino resorts, World War II, the military, atomic testing, and the suburban growth of the metropolitan area.
Objectives
1. Participants will understand a general timeline of major periods in Las Vegas history.
2. Participants will use visual thinking strategies to analyze historical photographs and artifacts.
3. For grades 6-12: Participants will understand that the Mob did not create Las Vegas, but they influenced development in the gaming and hospitality industries.