Mapping Historical Las Vegas

A Cartographic Journey

by Joe Weber

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Pub Date Jun 28 2022 | Archive Date Jul 28 2022

University of Nevada Press

History | Nonfiction (Adult) | Reference

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Description

Las Vegas has a long and rich history that extends far beyond the clichés of “sin city,” the Mafia, Elvis, or mindless urban sprawl. Mapping Historical Las Vegas takes readers beyond stereotypical tales and provides an illustrated cartographic exploration of the entire region from the time of the ancient Anasazi farmers to the present. Weber shows the development of the surrounding area, revealing a geographical perspective on the city’s growth, including the influence of water, public land surveys, transportation routes, and the construction of casinos on Las Vegas’s evolution.

Reaching past the city limits, Mapping Historical Las Vegas also examines the development of public lands, military bases, and the canyons and valleys of the Colorado River before the Hoover Dam was built and Lake Mead was created. Weber also includes information on dams, highways, railroads, and other projects that were planned but never constructed— showing what might have been in one of the nation’s largest cities.

With 137 color maps generated using Geographic Information Systems, along with extensive mapping by Weber that draws on his decades of experience in the region, Mapping Historical Las Vegas offers a unique perspective on one of the world’s most famous desert cities.

A Note From the Publisher

This is an excerpt of Mapping Historical Las Vegas. The complete book will be available June 28, 2022.

Advance Praise

“Weber’s geographic take on Las Vegas history allows readers to not only understand the ‘what’ of the city’s past and present, but also the ‘where.’ Such a perspective gives way to a profound appreciation of and deep connection to this unique place. I learned something new in every chapter.”

—Rex J. Rowley, professor of geography, Illinois State University, author of Everyday Las Vegas: Local Life in a Tourist Town

“The work is diligent and competent, the maps are clear and consistent, and the writing is straightforward and fact-based.”

—Richard Campanella, geographer and associate dean for research, Tulane School of Architecture

Marketing Plan

• Gain an overview of thousands of years of Las Vegas’ history

• Discover the presence of the past in the city’s landscape

• Explore unbuilt projects that might have produced a very different city

• Understand the role of the physical environment in the city’s layout

• Gain an overview of thousands of years of Las Vegas’ history

• Discover the presence of the past in the city’s landscape

• Explore unbuilt projects that might have produced a very different city

...

Available Editions

EDITION	Other Format
ISBN	9781948908405
PRICE	$45.00 (USD)
PAGES	336

Additional Information

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Featured Reviews

Deanna S, Reviewer

I was lucky enough to get to read an excerpt of this book and my goodness I can’t wait to get my hands on a finished/full copy! I didn’t realize that this was only an excerpt going in, and honestly it’s probably good that it was because I was so fascinated that I would have probably lost an entire day reading this.

The thing about this book that’s obvious from the very beginning is just how passionate the author is about the history of Las Vegas and how much time and energy they put in to making this book. I mean, creating these maps and then writing about all of it? I can’t even imagine how long that took. It definitely pays off though because you can feel how important this is to them and how much they enjoy talking about this area.

This was especially fascinating to me since I’m Canadian and live nowhere close to Nevada, this small part of the book has made me want to visit when that’s not something I ever wanted to do before though. I’d say that’s pretty damn impressive.

I will definitely be purchasing a copy of this book once it’s released and I can’t wait to settle in and learn even more about the history and geography of Las Vegas.

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Reviewer 875987

I received a free Advanced Reading Copy via NetGalley in exchange for a complete and honest review.

One of the best books I've read in a long while.

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Susan M, Reviewer

Las Vegas has been known as “Sin City,” run by the Mafia, Elvis and that the the Flamingo was the first casino on the Strip. Is any of this true? It’s not! The author has written a history of Las Vegas with 136 color maps including the natural history besides the “human” history of it and the surrounding territory. The author has describe the changes that Las Vegas has gone through. Lack of change is also shown. It is a land that has gone from exert to urban and populate by Indigenous people to ask gambling town. It’s an in depth work of research that I enjoyed reading as I learned so much about Las Vegas. I won’t only think of it a a gambling city as I am now wanting to go and see what was described in the book. I found it to be a fascinating book that has awaken my curiosity of Las Vegas.