100 Years of Clark County

What a difference a century makes.

To help mark Clark County's centennial, the Review-Journal will publish a historic photograph on Saturdays, giving readers glimpses of the area's past.

Today's photo is of the Las Vegas Ranch, which was originally a Mormon mission in 1855. Helen Stewart later owned the ranch and sold it in 1902 to the San Pedro, Salt Lake and Los Angeles Railroad. The site was used as a ranch, resort and supplier of meat, dairy and produce well into the 20th century.

The county came into being July 1, 1909. Gov. Denver Dickerson signed legislation enabling the county to form.

The centennial will be celebrated throughout the year with events that include:

• An opening reception at 5:30 p.m., Feb. 5 for a year-long exhibit at the Clark County Museum in Henderson.

• A touring history exhibit will open July 3 at the county Government Center before traveling to various sites.

• The Nov. 14 opening of the restored Candlelight Wedding Chapel, where many celebrity weddings have taken place.

• The opening of the 1910 railroad cottage. Only a handful of the original 64 cottages that housed workers remain.

• Burial of a time capsule at the Government Center for re-opening in the future.

The county also has nominated the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign to the National Historic Register.

Smaller events throughout the area will showcase the county's mining, ranching, farming, military and tourism heritage. There will be two book-length publications, history programs produced for CCTV-Channel 4 and placement of historic markers throughout the county.

For more information, visit www.accessclarkcounty.com/100 on the Internet.