Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort

This place was a fun stop by on a recent visit to the Neon Museum, which was booked solid on the day we tried to get in. So, we saw this place nearby, and we decided to stop in. It was only $ 1 per person to get in. There was an indoor area with lots of information and a ten-​minute video about the fort. Overall, I was really glad I stopped in. Now, I know about how Vegas got its start.

The Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort (abbreviated as Fort) is a Field of dreams in back of the Cashman Field outfield. Because it is the oldest manmade structure in Las Vegas, it is the game that created a winning world renown city. There are a few players that created this Field of Dreams which is the Fort. The museum displays and discusses them in detail. This review will also discuss them. In 1855, Brighton Young established a company to establish a colony around the verdent springs in the desert. On June 17, 1855 the fort was built with the dimensions of 150 square feet and walls 14 feet high. He brought the Fort to first base. The fort was passed on to Octavius Gass and then to the Stewarts. They brought the Fort to second base. Then the Railroad and Bureau of Reclamation owned it. They brought the Fort to third base. Ultimately the State of Nevada brought it, fixed it up and scored a home run with a state park that is an outstanding value for $ 1. In the last three years there have been three times that I picked up the ball and scored a home run with adventures in the oldest structure in Las Vegas.
Visitor Center:
The Visitor Center (VC)is where you exchange a $ 1 with a park ranger and begin the adventure. I highly recommend walking to the theatre to see the 10 minute introductory video on the Fort. Outside the theatre, the VC features a time line of exhibits from the Paleo Indians to the leading days as a tourist mecca. This includes neat artifects such as casino chips & tools used by the Indians. They also sell gifts and $ 1 cans of cola and water.
Original Fort:
This rectangular room is a living museum. It includes the adobe block that is the only original part of the remaining wall. There is a preserved bedroom, a replica of the first flag flown over Las Vegas, several artifacts, and stories.
The Stewart Ranch House:
This is the site of where the house stood. Today there is a descriptive sign and tools.
Inside reconstructed bastion:
The bastion is the most interesting part of the park. When I visualize a fort it is the bastion. There is a small room that is the soldier’s room replica from 1867 to 69 that the public can access. The sights clockwise include a ladder to the second floor (closed), chess table, barrel, boxes of musket, two chairs, and a coal stove. The sounds were Las Vegas Boulevard (LVB) traffic and birds.
Site of Mormon corrals:
This is a historic outdoor area adjacent to the LVB wall. Their are antique freight wagons, shade, picnic tables, and views of the back of the bastion.
Garden in the Desert:
On my visits the 3 plots were barron. There is an informative discription sign and beavertail cactus garden. Nearby is the statue of Helen Stewart.
The creek:
When I spent time here, I knew why this is the spot where Las Vegas began. It is solitude in the shadow of Fremont Street. The bobbing stream with chirping birds under the canopy of mesquite and catclaw trees is an inviting place to spend time at one of the 6 picnic tables. The view of the bobbing stream passing the original fort is my favorite part of the experience.
Conclusion: The Fort is a memorial to the all stars that sacrificed in a brutal climate to create a Field of Dreams that would develop into the City of Las Vegas. They hit a grand slam to create a home run city. I picked up the ball and ran with it to enjoy three winning adventures in this Nevada State Park (1 of 4 in South Nev). Now I pass the ball to you to enjoy a grand slam adventure in the oldest structure in Las Vegas.

Only $ 1 to get in and kids are free. We went because we are Mormons and wanted to check this out. Not much Mormon history except that it was established by Mormons and then abandoned. Interesting history about how the city of Las Vegas was established. Museum inside with lots of old artifacts. A 10 minute video is worth the watch. The outside artifacts was what was interesting to me. The fort replica was cool and the old adobe building. The spring is there which is why it was settled in the first place. Apparently, there is a wall of the original fort left, but I missed it. Not well marked. Plan an hour or less for this excursion.

Ye olé Mormon fort. I passed this place once in the summer and it was too damn hot to get out and look around. So one fateful day in fall i happened to be in the area and decided to check it out. The inside is pretty standard, lots of cool facts and stuff to read posted on the walls. A few displays here and there. The outside is where the more interesting stuff was, for me at least. You can visit the old buildings that are setup to look like they did back in the day. The artifacts in there were pretty cool and gave you a better idea of what life was like back then. Also as many previous Unilocalers said it’s only $ 1 to get in so worth it if you have yet to visit here.

Admittedly, there isn’t much to see. And that’s an understatement. However, admission is $ 1 with young kids free. Nice little indoor exhibit, a 15-​minute film available, and then you walk outside to see a replica of the fort. It’s basically one wall. And then there is the old adobe house, which is the oldest building in Las Vegas. I recommend combining this with the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, as it is located just a short walk through a park. You can learn everything you want here in an hour, and while certainly not a must do, it’s worth a visit if you’re into history or Mormons or just want to kill some time. Full disclosure — I’ve been to Vegas about twenty times in the past twenty years, and this was my first visit (that’s how far down it was on my things to do in Vegas list).

I love this place – but I am a historian by profession. :) It is cheap. There is lots to read and plenty of outdoor space to explore. A short movie for those who don’t like to read. It’s a great place to bring the kids. Highly recommended.

I’ve been to the Old Mormon Fort before but I went back today to see the Helen Stewart statue that was dedicated last December – a dedication I couldn’t make because of a conflict.
If you are interested in Las Vegas history, this is a must visit sometime as this is where the town started along the Las Vegas Creek. After the Mormons abandoned the camp, it was first the home of O. D. Gass and then Archibald and Helen Stewart. I have always admired Helen Stewart – she’s called the First Lady of Las Vegas – so taking the time to see her statue was a must do.
There are some things to see in the small museum and you can walk around the grounds and in one of the buildings see the only piece of the original fort that survived. A little under whelming but it’s there nonetheless.
Admission is only $ 1 so it won’t break the bank. Go and enjoy!

I had some business at the Grant Govt. Building and I had to wander across the street to visit one of my favorite Fallout New Vegas locations. It was then I realized that it was actually right where it should be, even with the Freeside strip gate right down the road a little way! The fort itself is attached to a museum and it was neat in itself. Next to Cashman Center, if you can picture it now.
Julie was not available to cure my rad sickness.

We had an hour of time to kill, so I brought my parents here (who were visiting from out-​of-​town). The entrance fee was only $ 1, so why not?
I really wish I had visited this little place sooner. To be honest, it had been on my list of to-​dos for years, but never intriguing enough for us to prioritize it over other activities. And boy was I wrong.
This place is basically a small indoor museum and then an outdoor area with the actual remains and recreations of the fort. This inside was incredibly interesting! It’s very nice, has lots of the little displays, a 10-​minute movie, and even a couple of reading rooms. I actually learned quite a few new things about the history of Las Vegas.
After a fairly quick run-​through of everything, my parents wanted to go back so we could spend more time there. I will definitely be coming back and will be sure to add this to my running list of places to take out-​of-​town visitors.

Entrance is only a $ 1. We had time to kill while waiting for our Neon Boneyard Tour. The name intrigued my hubby so off we went. This place is alright, very tiny, nothing much to see, some old wreckage, an old mormon base or house with what’s left of some of their furnitures. The attendant inside was very accommodating and helpful.