Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort

The Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort is an adobe structure in Downtown Las Vegas with a square footprint and two corner towers. The eastern wall and the southeast tower come from the original building phase and show the craftsmanship of the pioneers.

Missionaries built the fortification in 1855 near Las Vegas Springs to create a supply station on the route to California. After a few years they left the compound, which was later used by ranchers and other settlers.

The site preserves building methods from early southwestern frontier settlers and displays tools and everyday objects from that era. Visitors can follow how the first residents organized their rooms and lived with the local springs.

The grounds open five days a week and are suitable for a short walk through the preserved rooms and outdoor areas. Entry takes place directly at the visitor center, where overview maps are available.

The springs on site supplied travelers heading to the Pacific coast with water for decades, even before the city itself arose. Today the fort is one of the few remaining examples of adobe construction from the mid-19th century in Nevada.

Location: Las Vegas

Inception: 1991

Address: 500 East Washington Avenue

Email: oldfort@parks.nv.gov

Website: http://parks.nv.gov/parks/old-las-vegas-mormon-fort

GPS coordinates: 36.18060,-115.13350

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:27