Near Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park, where Las Vegas began more than 150 years ago, a spring-fed creek flowed through a valley, resulting in an oasis in the Mojave Desert. Rising from underground aquifers, springs supplied Las Vegas Creek with a year-round supply of water that flowed for several miles before disappearing into the desert. The creek provided early travelers with a welcome place for water and food. Spaniards called the place “Las Vegas,” or “The Meadows.”
