Last updated on December 20, 2023.

It’s hard to believe a city like Las Vegas has Mormon roots, but it’s true. On June 14, 1855, Mormon missionaries arrived to build a fort along a creek that flowed from Las Vegas Springs. Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park preserves what’s left of the oldest building in the city and tells the story of its first settlers. 

 

Visiting

The park is open 8am to 4:30pm from Tuesday to Saturday. Admission is US$3 (as of April 2023).

 

Visitor Center

Outside the entrance to the visitor center is a monument to Helen Jane Wiser Stewart (1854-1926), the First Lady of Las Vegas. She moved there in 1882 and sold 1,834 acres of her ranch in 1902. That land became the city of Las Vegas. Stewart played an important role in the development of the city until her death.

Helen Jane Wiser Stewart monument at Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park in Nevada
Helen Jane Wiser Stewart monument

Once inside, you can go through a small museum with displays on the beginnings of Las Vegas and a scale model of the fort.

Visitor Center at Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park in Nevada
Visitor Center
Visitor Center at Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park in Nevada
Visitor Center
Scale model of the original fort at Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park in Nevada
Scale model of the original fort

 

The Fort

Outside of the visitor center, you can walk through what’s mostly a replica of the original fort. A plaque stands next to the walls commemorating the first Las Vegas Post Office, which was on the site.

The fort at Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park in Nevada
The fort
Post Office plaque at Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park in Nevada
Post Office plaque

A small building to the left contains the last surviving bricks of the original fort built between 1855 and 1857. Items that would have been used during that time period are on display. Nearby is a sign indicating the spot where Helen Stewart’s ranch house once stood until the 1960s.

Building with original bricks at Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park in Nevada
Building with original bricks
Original bricks at Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park in Nevada
Original bricks
Period items at Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park in Nevada
Period items

The replica walls and gates of the fort tell the story of US Army soldiers living at the fort between 1867 and 1869. The Army was sent to protect the settlers in 1860, and a display shows how they might have lived at the time. During the Civil War, the fort was called Fort Baker.

Gates of the fort at Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park in Nevada
Gates of the fort
The fort at Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park in Nevada
The fort
US Army display at Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park in Nevada
US Army display

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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