Las Vegas: The Great American Playground

This is an expanded edition of McCracken’s guide to one of America’s favourite holiday destinations. The very name of the city conjures up a collection of images: fun, excitement, escape, or, more concretely, mega-sized hotels and casinos, spectacular showrooms, theme parks, and marquees as large as office buildings lit with the names of the biggest stars. One of the most interesting things about Las Vegas is how quickly it grew from almost nothing to its present size and stature as an entertainment and gaming mecca. What is equally remarkable is that this development took place in the middle of an inhospitable desert. Only 90 years ago, the valley in which Las Vegas sits held a mere handful of small, dusty ranches. Today, a huge city occupies the valley, and a million people call it home. More than 30 million people per year visit this desert paradise. Tbis guide, illustrated with many contemporary and historical photographs, traces the city’s history from its first Native American occupants more than 10,000 years ago to its present status as a premier tourist destination.