Events to celebrate Clark County centennial in 2009

Clark County is creeping up on a big birthday with two zeros in it.

The county will turn 100 in 2009, and the centennial will be marked with an array of commemorative events throughout the year.

"It helps give us a sense of who we are, a sense of belonging and a feeling of pride to know about where we came from," Commissioner Chip Maxfield said in a written statement. The county was formed July 1, 1909.

As a pre-centennial event, the county will celebrate on Nov. 15 the opening of Old Spanish Trail Park at Cimarron Road and Tara Avenue. Next year's events will include:

• A year-long exhibit at the Clark County Museum in Henderson.

• The opening of the restored Candlelight Wedding Chapel, where many celebrity weddings have taken place, and the 1910 railroad cottage.

• A time capsule will be buried 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.