T H E H I S T O R Y O F

The city of Las Vegas and its surroundings are seen by about 40,000,000 people

every year. With its bright lights, world-class dining, spectacular shows, and one-of-

a-kind natural wonders, it’s easy to see why families flock to this unique destination.

On the following pages, we are going to explore the history, learn some trivia, and

see what makes Vegas one of the most sought-after vacation spots in the world.

In 1905, Las Vegas became a city. It took 26 years before

gambling became legal, and at the time, there were only a

little more than 5,000 people. Compare that to the over

580,000 who live there today!

Fun Fact: The light on the top of the Luxor hotel can be

seen from airplanes over 100 miles away.

W E L C O M E T O

LAS VEGAS

One of the seven

natural wonders of the

world is located just a 1-

hour flight away. The

Grand Canyon became a

national monument in

1908. It is 277 miles

long, 18 miles wide, and

over 1 mile deep –

nearly 2 billion years of

history lay in the sides

of the Grand Canyon.

A D V E N T U R E S I N T H E

GRAND CANYON

E X P L O R I N G T H E

HOOVER DAM

If you are driving to the Grand Canyon, make sure to stop by the Hoover Dam.

Completed in 1935, this was once the world’s tallest dam at 726 feet high. Take

a tour of the facility or even explore the Colorado River on a raft.

Fun Fact: The Hoover Dam is currently the 27th tallest dam in the world and

the second tallest in the U.S. (45 feet shorter than Oroville Dam in California).

In 1956, Betty Willis created

the world-famous “Welcome

to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign.

From that moment on, a

whirlwind of hotels and

casinos began to spring up.

Many have stood the test of

time: Tropicana (1957),

Ceasars Palace (1966), MGM

Grand (1973), Harrah’s (1974),

and The Mirage (1980).

Fun Fact: When the MGM

Grand was built, it was the

largest hotel in the world.

C R E A T I N G

THE STRIP

Take a break from the hustle and bustle

of Vegas crowds, and relax and play at

Lake Mead—only 30 minutes away from

the Strip. Enjoy swimming, boating,

hiking, and the peaceful wilderness.

R E L A X I N G O N

LAKE MEAD

Fun Fact: Lake Mead is the 16th largest

manmade lake in the world.

The excitement of the Strip has continued to

boom over the last few decades. A host of new

famous hotels have emerged in this time:

G E T T I N G

BIGGER

Fun Fact: The Stratosphere Tower is the

tallest freestanding observation tower in

the United States.

Excalibur (1990), Luxor (1993), Stratosphere (1996), New York-New York (1997),

Bellagio (1998), Venetian (1999), WYNN (2005), and Cosmopolitan (2010).

Want more highflying adventure? There is nothing

more exciting than taking a helicopter ride or

venturing out onto the glass-bottom Grand Canyon

Skywalk. See all the sights of the Grand Canyon from

above. Go to the places few ever see!

A N A M A Z I N G

VIEW

Since 1967, Scenic Airlines has been flying over the Grand Canyon—setting the standard for aerial sightseeing tours. Now world famous for their Grand Canyon

airplane tours, Scenic Airlines remains the largest and most experienced aerial tour operator in the world.

For more information, please visit www.scenic.com.