Old Mormon Fort, Las Vegas
The company paraded at the dawn of day and fired a salute very spiritedly; also at sun-up and again when the liberty pole was erected and the flag floated majestically to the breeze, another salute was fired the company having previously assembled, kneeling down and offering up their devotions to God. Afterwards there were many spirited speeches, songs, and toasts from many of the brethren. Then all were dismissed by prayer and went to perform our several camps duties.30 Mormon missionaries arrived in the Las Vegas Valley on Thursday, June 14 1855 after travelling for 35 days from Salt Lake City. They were charged with building a fort to create a way station between the settlements in Utah and those in California. They were also expected to develop peaceful relations with the local Indians and convert them to Mormonism. The fort quickly became a stopover for travelers and when lead was discovered less than 35 miles away, it looked like the small settlement may become permanent.
The Old Mormon Fort shows how the town of Las Vegas came into existence through faith, hope, determination and the ability to overcome adversity. It’s hard to imagine now, but Las Vegas, Spanish for The Meadows, once was an oasis in the desert, with free-flowing water and an abundance of lush grass as far as the eye could see. It became a popular resting point for the native Paiute, traders, miners and others passing through the region.
History
Ownership of the old mormon fort and around it changed hands many times and it had several close calls with destruction. Protection finally seems assured when the state acquired the site as a state park in the 1990s. While the fort was called Fort Baker during the Civil War, this was only as a deception by the Union Army since no troops were ever stationed there. The fort was named after Edward Dickinson Baker.
Before Bugsy Siegel made it to town, the Mormon Church created this tiny settlement in 1855. It boasts the oldest European-American building in Nevada. The site was purchased by the State of Nevada in 1990 and restored as a state park. Tours are now available that outline the harsh life that the first settlers endured. The place was one a rest stop for those heading to California to seek their fortune during the gold rush. Admissions: Adults (over 13) $3; Ages 6-12 $2; Under 6 free. No credit cards are accepted.
The discovery of lead ore in the vicinity led to Nathaniel V. Jones being sent to set up a lead mining mission. Conflict of authority arose between Bringhurst and Jones which led to the removal of Bringhurst as mission president and included his disfellowshipment from the Church. In early 1857, due to problems with the natives and discouragement among the brethren, President Young made the decision to close the two missions. In his words he described that “this station becomes an expense to the kingdom, and as at prisent seems, not to add any honey to the hive.”
The Ranch House
In 1865 Octavious D. Gass, a miner from El Dorado Canyon acquired the Mormon fort site and used part of the foundation and walls to build a ranch house. Gass also bought out other landholders to assemble a sizable ranch, and built a store and blacksmith shop to supply travelers. Later the ranch was taken over by Archibald and Helen Stewart. Mrs. Stewart occupied the ranch house until she sold it to the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Slat Lake Railroad. The building shown above right was used for various purposes until it was demolished in 1966.
