A Fool and His Money

The Mexicans in Antonio Armijo’s party called this area the meadows. They were grateful for the abundant grasses and freshwater springs as they traveled the western desert. The first permanent residents were Mormons who built an adobe fort along Las Vegas Creek. You can find what’s left of the old fort at the north end of the strip where Las Vegas Boulevard meets Washington Avenue. The museum charges $1 for admission. Vegas was designed to empty visitors’ wallets, but there are a few things you can do here for free. There are circus acts at Circus Circus, a huge salt-water aquarium at the Silverton, musical fountains at the Bellagio, and a volcano at the Mirage that erupts hourly every night. You can visit flamingos at the Flamingo, see a $70,000,000 light canopy on Fremont, view the fall of Atlantis at Caesar’s, and watch chocolatiers working at Ethyl M’s. Of course, you CAN buy stuff there, too.