John C. Fremont

Literally the first settler in Las Vegas, John C. Fremont, and his
party of about 30 expeditioners set up a camp near the Las Vegas
Springs on May 13th, 1844. The Springs had been discovered some
fifteen years earlier by young Mexican scout Rafael Rivera. The
abundant water supply was a literal oasis in the desert, and well
located for those making the trek from Salt Lake City to the newly
found Gold in ‘Tham Thar Hills’ of California.

Fremont’s settlers constructed the first structure ever built in the Las Vegas Valley. The Fremont name lives to this day as the name of one of the Hotels downtown, as well as the name of the street where nearly all the downtown casinos are located. Without John C Fremont, there would have never been a Fremont Street Experience.