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Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park is a state park of Nevada, USA, containing the Old Mormon Fort, the first structure built by people of European heritage in what would become Las Vegas fifty years later.^[1] In present-day Las Vegas, the site is at the southeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Washington Avenue, less than one mile north of the downtown area and Fremont Street. This is the only U.S. state park located in a city that houses the first building ever built in that city.^[2] The fort was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 1, 1972.^[3]. The site is marked as Nevada Historical Marker #35.^[4]

History

Fort

Mormon missionaries arrived on June 14, 1855 and selected a site, along one of the creeks that flowed from the Las Vegas Springs, on which they would build the fort. The fort served as the midpoint on the trail from Salt Lake City, Utah and Los Angeles, California.

The fort was surrounded by 14-foot (4.3 m) high adobe walls that extended for 150 feet (46 m). While called a fort, it was never home to any military troops but like many Mormon forts provided a defense for the local settlers against an Indian attack. As a result of the beginning of the Utah War, the Mormons abandoned the fort.

Around 1860, a small detachment of U.S. Army troops was assigned to protect the settlers at the fort.^{[citation needed]}

The fort was called Fort Baker during the Civil War, named after Edward Dickinson Baker. In a letter from Col. James Henry Carleton written to Pacific Department headquarters, December 23, 1861, Carleton mentions his plan to send an advance party of seven companies from Fort Yuma to reoccupy Fort Mojave and reestablish the ferry there.^[5] Carleton then intended to send on from there three cavalry companies and one of infantry to the Mormon fort at Las Vegas, and establish a post called Fort Baker. This was in preparation for an advance to Salt Lake City the following year.^[6] The move to reoccupy Fort Mojave never occurred as planned because Carleton's California Column at Fort Yuma were sent instead into Arizona and New Mexico to evict the Confederates there the next year. However, Fort Mojave was later reoccupied in 1863 by Union troops from California. In 1864, a road survey party led by Captain Price, Company M, 2nd California Cavalry traveled on the route from Fort Douglas to Fort Mojave passing through Las Vegas, stopping for water there on June 10. No mention is made of any garrison there.^[7] Presumably the post was never garrisoned during the Civil War.

In 1865, Octavius Gass re-occupied the fort and started the irrigation works, renaming the area to Las Vegas Rancho. Gass defaulted on a loan to Archibald Stewart in 1881 and lost the ranch, with Stewart and his wife Helen becoming the new caretakers. In 1902, William A. Clark's San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad acquired the property from Helen Stewart along with most of what is now downtown Las Vegas, transferring most of the company's land to the now defunct Las Vegas Land and Water Company.^[8]

Site preservation

Ownership of the fort and the land around it changed hands many times and it had several close calls with destruction. In 1955, the land was acquired by the Las Vegas Elks. With support of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, the city of Las Vegas acquired the fort in 1989. Long-term protection was gained when the state acquired the site as a state park in 1991.^[9] A $4.5 million renovation was completed in 2005.

Activities and amenities

A visitor center is available to help explain the history of the fort.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b "Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park". Nevada State Parks. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
^ Michael S. Durham (1990). The Smithsonian Guide to Historic America: The Desert States. Stewart Tabori & Chang. p. 318. ISBN 1556701055. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
^ Gene Amberg, Supervisor of Federal Aid Programs, Planning Dept. (November 8, 1971). "National Register of Historic Place Inventory Nomination: Las Vegas Mormon Fort". National Park Service. Retrieved January 30, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ "Las Vegas Old Mormon Fort". Nevada’s State Historical Markers. State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
^ Carleton calls it Fort Navajo, but by referring to the ferry and Major Hoffman's route up the Colorado in his campaign against the Mohave Indians it clearly indicates he means Fort Mojave. He also indicates it will then draw supplies from Los Angeles. Fort Mojave was the terminus of the supply route known as the Mojave Road from San Bernardino and Los Angeles.
^ Brig.-Gen. Richard H. Orton (1890). Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion 1861 to 1867. Sacramento, Cal.: State Office. p. 21. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
^ Aurora Hunt (2004). The Army of the Pacific, 1860-1866. Frontier Classics Series. Stackpole Books. pp. 202–203. ISBN 978-0-8117-2978-9.
^ "Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort Historic State Park Brochure" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 19, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
^ "History of Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park". Nevada State Parks. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved January 30, 2017.

Cite error: A list-defined reference named "statelands" is not used in the content (see the help page).

External links

Old Las Vegas Mormon State Historic Park
The Old Mormon Fort: Birthplace of Las Vegas, Nevada National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places Lesson Plan

[nsp-1] "Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park". Nevada State Parks. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved January 30, 2017.

[smithsonian-2] Michael S. Durham (1990). The Smithsonian Guide to Historic America: The Desert States. Stewart Tabori & Chang. p. 318. ISBN 1556701055. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)

[nrhpinv1-3] Gene Amberg, Supervisor of Federal Aid Programs, Planning Dept. (November 8, 1971). "National Register of Historic Place Inventory Nomination: Las Vegas Mormon Fort". National Park Service. Retrieved January 30, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[markers-4] "Las Vegas Old Mormon Fort". Nevada’s State Historical Markers. State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved January 30, 2017.

[5] Carleton calls it Fort Navajo, but by referring to the ferry and Major Hoffman's route up the Colorado in his campaign against the Mohave Indians it clearly indicates he means Fort Mojave. He also indicates it will then draw supplies from Los Angeles. Fort Mojave was the terminus of the supply route known as the Mojave Road from San Bernardino and Los Angeles.

[adjutant-6] Brig.-Gen. Richard H. Orton (1890). Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion 1861 to 1867. Sacramento, Cal.: State Office. p. 21. Retrieved December 29, 2009.

[hunt-7] Aurora Hunt (2004). The Army of the Pacific, 1860-1866. Frontier Classics Series. Stackpole Books. pp. 202–203. ISBN 978-0-8117-2978-9.

[brochure-8] "Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort Historic State Park Brochure" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 19, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2011.

[parkhistory-9] "History of Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park". Nevada State Parks. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved January 30, 2017.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Geobox|Protected area
-{{Infobox NRHP
+| name = Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort <br>State Historic Park
+| category = [[List of Nevada state parks|Nevada State Park]]
+| image = 2010-1218-MormonFort.jpg
+| image_caption = Historic reconstruction in downtown Las Vegas
+| image_size = 280
+| country = {{flag|United States}}
+| state = {{flag|Nevada}}
+| region_type = County
+| region = [[Clark County, Nevada|Clark]]
+| district_type = City
+| district = [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]]
+| location =
+| elevation_imperial = 1923
+| elevation_round = 0
+| elevation_note = <ref name=gnis>{{cite gnis|855718|Las Vegas Mormon Fort (historical)}}</ref>
+| coordinates = {{coord|36|10|49|N|115|07|57|W|display=inline,title}}
+| coordinates_note = <ref name=gnis/>
+| area_unit = acre
+| area_imperial = 3.16
+| area_round = 0
+| area_note = <ref name=statelands/>
+| established = 1991
+| established_type = Established
+| management_body = Nevada Division of State Parks
+| map_locator = Nevada svg
+| map = USA Nevada location map.svg
+| map_caption = Location in Nevada
+| map_size = 280
+| website = [http://parks.nv.gov/parks/old-las-vegas-mormon-fort Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort <br>State Historic Park]
+{{Infobox NRHP |embed=yes
 | name = Las Vegas Mormon Fort
 | nrhp_type =
 | image = Old Mormon Fort (8227858878).jpg
 | caption = Part of the reconstructed Las Vegas Mormon Fort
+| image_size = 280
 | location = 500 Las Vegas Blvd. N.<br>[[Las Vegas, Nevada]]
-| coordinates = {{coord|36|10|50|N|115|8|01|W|display=inline,title}}
+| coordinates =
-| locmapin = Nevada#USA
+| locmapin =
-| area =
+| area = 0.699 acres
 | built =1855
 | architect =
@@ Line 21: / Line 52: @@
 | designated_other1_abbr = Marker
 | designated_other1_link = Nevada Historical Markers
-| designated_other1_number = 35
+| designated_other1_number = 35 <ref name=markers/>
 | designated_other1_color = #ffc94b
 }}
+}}
-'''Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park''' is a [[state park]] of [[Nevada]], USA, containing the Old Mormon Fort, the first structure built by people of European heritage in what would become [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]] fifty years later.
-In present-day Las Vegas, the site is at the southeast corner of [[Las Vegas Boulevard]] and Washington Avenue, less than one mile north of the [[downtown]] area and [[Fremont Street]].  This is the only U.S. state park located in a city that houses the first building ever built in that city.<ref>The Smithsonian, guide to Historic America, The Desert states - page 318</ref>
-A [[visitor center]] is available to help explain the history of the fort. The fort is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].  The site is marked as [[Nevada Historical Markers|Nevada Historical Marker]] #35.
+'''Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park''' is a [[state park]] of [[Nevada]], USA, containing the Old Mormon Fort, the first structure built by people of European heritage in what would become [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]] fifty years later.<ref name=nsp/> In present-day Las Vegas, the site is at the southeast corner of [[Las Vegas Boulevard]] and Washington Avenue, less than one mile north of the [[downtown]] area and [[Fremont Street]].  This is the only U.S. state park located in a city that houses the first building ever built in that city.<ref name=smithsonian/> The fort was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on February 1, 1972.<ref name="nrhpinv1"/>. The site is marked as [[Nevada Historical Markers|Nevada Historical Marker]] #35.<ref name=markers/>
 ==History==
+;Fort
 [[Mormon]] [[missionaries]] arrived on June 14, 1855 and selected a site, along one of the creeks that flowed from the [[Las Vegas Springs]], on which they would build the fort.  The fort served as the midpoint on the trail from [[Salt Lake City, Utah]] and [[Los Angeles, California]].
@@ Line 37: / Line 67: @@
 Around 1860, a small detachment of [[U.S. Army]] troops was assigned to protect the settlers at the fort.<!-- 1st Dragoons from Fort Tejon, part Carltons campaign against the Piute in the Mojave in 1860? -->{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}
-The fort was called Fort Baker during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], named after [[Edward Dickinson Baker]]. In a letter from Col. [[James Henry Carleton]] written to Pacific Department headquarters, December 23, 1861, Carleton mentions his plan to send an advance party of seven companies from [[Fort Yuma]] to reoccupy [[Fort Mojave]] and reestablish the ferry there.<ref>Carleton calls it Fort Navajo, but by referring to the ferry and  Major [[William Hoffman (U.S. Army)|Hoffman]]'s route up the Colorado in his campaign against the [[Mohave people|Mohave]] Indians it clearly indicates he means Fort Mojave. He also indicates it will then draw supplies from [[Los Angeles]]. Fort Mojave was the terminus of the supply route known as the [[Mojave Road]] from [[San Bernardino]] and Los Angeles.</ref> Carleton then intended to send on from there three cavalry companies and one of infantry to the Mormon fort at Las Vegas, and establish a post called Fort Baker.  This was in preparation for an advance to Salt Lake City the following year.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=RTEOAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11&dq=%22First+Regiment,+Washington+Territory+Infantry+Volunteers%22&source=bl&ots=TsHVuMDzFb&sig=KsM89IlNIC22qm3wYqqfcKoFle8&hl=en&ei=vTdySumOHIHCsQObgtHeCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10#v=onepage&q=%22Las%20Vegas%22&f=false  California. Adjutant General's Office, Records of California men in the war of the rebellion 1861 to 1867, State office, 1890 p. 21]</ref>  The move to reoccupy Fort Mojave never occurred as planned because Carleton's [[California Column]] at Fort Yuma were sent instead into [[Arizona]] and [[New Mexico]] to evict the Confederates there the next year.  However, Fort Mojave was later reoccupied in 1863 by Union troops from California. In 1864, a road survey party led by Captain Price, Company M, 2nd California Cavalry traveled on the route from Fort Douglas to Fort Mojave passing through Las Vegas, stopping for water there on June 10.  No mention is made of any garrison there.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=OVQPLM8mjGAC&q=%22Las+Vegas%22#v=snippet&q=%22Las%20Vegas%22&f=false  Aurora Hunt, The Army of the Pacific: its operations in California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Plains Region, Mexico, etc., 1860-1866, Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, 2004, pp. 202-203]</ref>  Presumably the post was never garrisoned during the Civil War.
+The fort was called Fort Baker during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], named after [[Edward Dickinson Baker]]. In a letter from Col. [[James Henry Carleton]] written to Pacific Department headquarters, December 23, 1861, Carleton mentions his plan to send an advance party of seven companies from [[Fort Yuma]] to reoccupy [[Fort Mojave]] and reestablish the ferry there.<ref>Carleton calls it Fort Navajo, but by referring to the ferry and  Major [[William Hoffman (U.S. Army)|Hoffman]]'s route up the Colorado in his campaign against the [[Mohave people|Mohave]] Indians it clearly indicates he means Fort Mojave. He also indicates it will then draw supplies from [[Los Angeles]]. Fort Mojave was the terminus of the supply route known as the [[Mojave Road]] from [[San Bernardino]] and Los Angeles.</ref> Carleton then intended to send on from there three cavalry companies and one of infantry to the Mormon fort at Las Vegas, and establish a post called Fort Baker.  This was in preparation for an advance to Salt Lake City the following year.<ref name=adjutant/>  The move to reoccupy Fort Mojave never occurred as planned because Carleton's [[California Column]] at Fort Yuma were sent instead into [[Arizona]] and [[New Mexico]] to evict the Confederates there the next year.  However, Fort Mojave was later reoccupied in 1863 by Union troops from California. In 1864, a road survey party led by Captain Price, Company M, 2nd California Cavalry traveled on the route from Fort Douglas to Fort Mojave passing through Las Vegas, stopping for water there on June 10.  No mention is made of any garrison there.<ref name=hunt/>  Presumably the post was never garrisoned during the Civil War.
-In 1865, [[Octavius Gass]] re-occupied the fort and started the irrigation works, renaming the area to [[Las Vegas Rancho]].  Gass defaulted on a loan to Archibald Stewart in 1881 and lost the ranch, with Stewart and his wife Helen becoming the new caretakers.  In 1902, William A. Clark's [[Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad|San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad]] acquired the property from Helen Stewart along with most of what is now downtown Las Vegas, transferring most of the company's land to the now defunct [[Las Vegas Land and Water Company]].<ref name="docs">{{cite web |url=http://parks.nv.gov/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/MormonStation2009.pdf |title=Nevada State Parks Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort Historic State Park pamphlet |accessdate=2011-01-30}}</ref>
+In 1865, [[Octavius Gass]] re-occupied the fort and started the irrigation works, renaming the area to [[Las Vegas Rancho]].  Gass defaulted on a loan to Archibald Stewart in 1881 and lost the ranch, with Stewart and his wife Helen becoming the new caretakers.  In 1902, William A. Clark's [[Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad|San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad]] acquired the property from Helen Stewart along with most of what is now downtown Las Vegas, transferring most of the company's land to the now defunct [[Las Vegas Land and Water Company]].<ref name=brochure/>
+;Site preservation
-Ownership of the fort and the land around it changed hands many times and it had several close calls with destruction.  In 1955, the land was acquired by the Las Vegas [[Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks|Elks]].  With support of the [[Daughters of Utah Pioneers]], the city of Las Vegas acquired the fort in 1989. Long-term protection was gained when the state acquired the site as a state park in 1991.<ref>{{cite news| last = Puit | first = Glenn | title = Living History | newspaper = Las Vegas Review-Journal | location = Las Vegas, Nev. | pages = 1B | date = 1997-12-14}}</ref> A $4.5 million renovation was completed in 2005.
+Ownership of the fort and the land around it changed hands many times and it had several close calls with destruction.  In 1955, the land was acquired by the Las Vegas [[Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks|Elks]].  With support of the [[Daughters of Utah Pioneers]], the city of Las Vegas acquired the fort in 1989. Long-term protection was gained when the state acquired the site as a state park in 1991.<ref name=parkhistory/> A $4.5 million renovation was completed in 2005.
+==Activities and amenities==
-The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 1, 1972.
+A [[visitor center]] is available to help explain the history of the fort.<ref name=nsp/>
 ==See also==
 * [[Mormon Station State Historic Park]]
-== References ==
+==References==
-{{reflist}}
+{{reflist|refs=
+<ref name=nsp>{{cite web |url=http://parks.nv.gov/parks/old-las-vegas-mormon-fort |title=Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park |work=Nevada State Parks |publisher=Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |accessdate=January 30, 2017}}</ref>
+<ref name=statelands>{{cite web |url=http://lands.nv.gov/docs/Land_Inventory.pdf |title=Inventory of State Lands |publisher=Nevada Division of State Lands |date=May 2016 |accessdate=January 30, 2017}}</ref>
+<ref name=parkhistory>{{cite web |url=http://parks.nv.gov/learn/park-histories/old-las-vegas-mormon-fort-history |title=History of Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park |work=Nevada State Parks |publisher=Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |accessdate=January 30, 2017}}</ref>
+<ref name="nrhpinv1">{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=72000764}} |title=National Register of Historic Place Inventory Nomination: Las Vegas Mormon Fort |author=Gene Amberg, Supervisor of Federal Aid Programs, Planning Dept. |date=November 8, 1971 |publisher=National Park Service |accessdate=January 30, 2017}}</ref>
+<ref name=markers>{{cite web |url=http://shpo.nv.gov/nevadas-historical-markers/historical-markers/las-vegas-morman-fort |title=Las Vegas Old Mormon Fort |work=Nevada’s State Historical Markers |publisher=State Historic Preservation Office |accessdate=January 30, 2017}}</ref>
+<ref name=smithsonian>{{cite book |title=The Smithsonian Guide to Historic America: The Desert States |author=Michael S. Durham |publisher=Stewart Tabori & Chang |year=1990 |page=318 |isbn=1556701055 |accessdate=October 13, 2009}}</ref>
+<ref name=adjutant>{{cite book |title=Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion 1861 to 1867 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RTEOAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA21 |author=Brig.-Gen. Richard H. Orton |location=Sacramento, Cal. |accessdate=December 29, 2009 |year=1890 |publisher=State Office |page=21}}</ref>
+<ref name=hunt>{{cite book |title=The Army of the Pacific, 1860-1866 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OVQPLM8mjGAC&pg=PA202 |author=Aurora Hunt |date=2004 |publisher=Stackpole Books |series=Frontier Classics Series |isbn=978-0-8117-2978-9 |pages=202–203}}</ref>
+[https://books.google.com/books?id=OVQPLM8mjGAC&q=%22Las+Vegas%22#v=snippet&q=%22Las%20Vegas%22&f=false  Aurora Hunt, The Army of the Pacific: its operations in California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Plains Region, Mexico, etc., 1860-1866, Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, 2004, pp. 202-203]</ref>
+<ref name=brochure>{{cite web |url=http://parks.nv.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/MormonFort2011-screen.pdf |title=Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort Historic State Park Brochure |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20120819194118/http://parks.nv.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/MormonFort2011-screen.pdf |archivedate=August 19, 2012 |accessdate=January 30, 2011}}</ref>
+}}
 == External links ==
 {{Commons category|Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park}}
-*[http://parks.nv.gov/parks/old-las-vegas-mormon-fort/ Old Las Vegas Mormon State Historic Park]
+*[http://parks.nv.gov/parks/old-las-vegas-mormon-fort Old Las Vegas Mormon State Historic Park]
-*[http://www.nps.gov/history/NR/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/122fort/ The Old Mormon Fort: Birthplace of Las Vegas, Nevada] a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan
+*[https://www.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/122fort/ The Old Mormon Fort: Birthplace of Las Vegas, Nevada] National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places Lesson Plan
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