1905: Going Once, Going Twice….

On May 15, 1905, railroad tycoon William Clark held a two-day, 110-acre auction on the corner of Fremont Street and Main Street. Three-thousand bidders were present; some arrived by train. They even created a hotel for this event. The 30-room, canvas covered hotel was called Hotel Las Vegas and was eventually dismantled later in the year. As a result of the auction, Clark’s Las Vegas town site was founded and May 15 became the official birthday of Las Vegas.