What Is the Best Source for Las Vegas History?

We recently visited Las Vegas for the first time. I know, that probably sounds unbelievable to you. But we liked it so much, we subscribed to the Las Vegas Advisor and plan to go back at least once a year. My husband is a dyed-in-the-wool historian and he's become interested in what he calls the "rather colorful" history of the city. Can you recommend the best source for someone like him to study, so he can pursue his passion for when we visit?

There are plenty of sources for learning about Las Vegas history.

Good books include our own The First 100 -- Portraits of the Men and Women Who Shaped Las Vegas. Others are Resort City in the Sunbelt: Las Vegas, 1930-2000 by Gene Moehring; Las Vegas: A Centennial History by Michael Green and Gene Moehring; and Las Vegas: As It Began, As It Grew by Stan Paher (best for 1800s–1930s). Another good one for more recent history is Neon Metropolis: How Las Vegas Started the Twenty-First Century by Hal Rothman.

Next time you visit, don't miss the Nevada State Museum and the Clark County Museum. And if your husband wants to jump headfirst into this rabbit hole (we know; we've been there), primary archives can be found at UNLV Special Collections (with its extensive collection of oral histories), the Las Vegas Historical Society, and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority archives (from the Las Vegas News Bureau).

But to answer your question, we believe that the best -- most accessible, highest production values, and most affordable (free) -- source is the set of videos produced by the Commission for the Las Vegas Centennial: The City of Las Vegas. This is an epic series of roughly 90-minute episodes that explore the history of the city decade by decade; they're released every year in conjunction with Las Vegas' birthday, May 15.

Thus far covering up through the 1970s, there are seven decade videos in total, along with three others (history of Westside, the Mob Museum building, and Helldorado), so your husband can immerse himself in around 10 and a half hours of vintage photos and video, interviews with local historians and experts (which should propel him in various new directions), and an excellent narration that ties it all together.

And just about when your husband has watched them all, The City of Las Vegas: The Eighties will be released on the city's 121st birthday. By then, he should be an expert and making plans to visit again.

Did we mention that the series is both free and accessible? Here's the link to all 11 videos the from Commission for the Las Vegas Centennial.

No part of this answer may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher.

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Comments

VegasVic Apr-20-2026

Other Books

Those are all good choices for overall LV history.  If you want more detailed history on casinos I would recommend Grandissimo: The First Emperor of Las Vegas by David Schwartz.  It's about Jay Sarno and how he got Caesars Palace built along with Circus Circus. 

Another interesting one is Super Casino: Inside the "New" Las Vegas by Pete Earley.  Keep in mind it was written in 2001 so it's not "new" but it's good and details the building of Mandalay Bay among many other things.

Toni Armstrong Jr. Apr-20-2026

Vegas book by 360 Vegas podcast Mark W

Mark Wojtowicz Jr. was a Las Vegas historian, author, and creator of the 360 Vegas podcast, specializing in "Vintage Vegas" history. He produced more than 500 episodes and authored the detail-filled book ‘Vegas: From Fremont to the Strip.’

Bob Nelson Apr-20-2026

LVA QOD

Has lots of history, just have to find it in the archives.

Gregory Apr-20-2026

A&E Series

In the late 90s A&E did a 4 part series on the history of Las Vegas called "The Real Las Vegas - The Complete Story".
It's very well done (AC pops up in it a few times).  It's not going to cover the last 25 years, but it does a good job of leading us from it's roots up to the Bellagio era.  Used DVDs can be found for about $10 on Amazon.  

I really like "The City of Las Vegas" series pointed out in the answer, but since it's commissioned by the city, it mostly skips the strip as it's not a part of the city proper.

Toni Armstrong Jr. Apr-20-2026

Bill Bennett (low-roller history)

Worthwhile book about Bill Bennett, the former owner of Circus Circus: ‘Forgotten Man: How Circus Circus's Bill Bennett Brought Middle America to Las Vegas’ by Jack Sheehan. Written through in-depth interviews with Bennett's family and associates, the biography details how he transformed the struggling casino into the Strip's most profitable resort by targeting middle-class travelers rather than high-rollers.

Laurence Martin Apr-20-2026

Neon Museum

Visit the neon museum near downtown. What a visual representation of old LV. they have a show called brilliant that showcases old Vegas. We visit every time in LV, always a new restored sign. Google it for more info

SCOTT Apr-20-2026

Atomic Testing Museum

Don't forget about the Atomic Testing Museum on Flamingo.

IdahoPat Apr-21-2026

Other recommendations

Storming Las Vegas (by John Huddy, on Jose Vigoa's crime spree in the late 1990s)

Casino (by Nicholas Pileggi, can't believe this was overlooked)

Coming to Las Vegas (by Carolyn Hamilton, on her life as a Strip cocktail waitress in the 1970s-80s.)

Whale Hunt in the Desert (by Steve Cyr and Deke Castleman, on the day-to-day of a Las Vegas Superhost)

Honestly, you best bet is the Nevada section at a Barnes and Noble, or the 900 section at a Las Vegas library. You're going to find an incredible amount of titles at both locations.

Question of the Day - 20 April 2026

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