NINE MOMENTS THAT DEFINED SIN CITY

While there are milestones in Las Vegas history, such as the creation of the country's first racially integrated casino or its role as host and home to infamous mobsters, the city has experienced many other notable moments in its more than 100-year history. These special events have helped Las Vegas become what it is today. Let's take a look at nine of Las Vegas' most significant moments. 1. Establishment of marriage and divorce laws (1931) The Nevada state legislature relaxed divorce laws in 1931 so that couples only had to wait six weeks to file, which was the shortest time in the country. Nevada stepped in again to speed up the marriage process, offering quick marriages - no blood tests, medical exams, or waiting periods - which eventually defined Las Vegas as the "marriage capital of the world." 2. Introduction of neon (1945) Las Vegas' first spectacular neon sign was installed by the Young Electric Sign Company in 1945 on Fremont Street, on the marquee of the Boulder Club. The sign was the starting point of the city's longtime love affair with neon. The Utah-based company also gave us the iconic Vegas Vic, the Fremont Street Experience marquee, the Hard Rock Café guitar, and a host of other resort signs along and across Las Vegas Boulevard. 3. The Showgirls make their debut (1957) The Dunes Hotel was considered one of the Strip's best hotels, but two years after it opened in 1955, it began underperforming until the show that defined Las Vegas entertainment. Minsky's Follies opened in 1957 and was the city's first topless girls' showcase. The sensation it created made the hotel viable again and showgirls synonymous with Sin City. 4. The "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign was installed (1959) Whether you wave "hello" or "goodbye" to it, it remains the gatekeeper of Las Vegas. In 1959, commercial artist and Las Vegas native Betty Willis designed the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign, receiving $4,000 from Clark County for her work. The 25-foot-tall sign is the city's most recognizable sign and one of the most striking monuments in Las Vegas history. 5. The Rat Pack Rules Las Vegas (1960) Las Vegas would still be a western frontier town if it weren't for a group of entertainers who came to town to film Ocean's Eleven in 1960. The Rat Pack starred in the movie, and when Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, Peter Lawford, Dean Martin, and Joey Bishop weren't on set, they were entertaining on the Vegas stages. Stars in tuxedos owe their appearance and definition of calm to Vegas. 6. King Elvis of Vegas begins his reign (1969) Elvis Presley's performance in Las Vegas wasn't his first, but in 1969, at the International Hotel, he became the city's superstar forever, spawning generations of impersonators. When you think of Las Vegas, you probably think of Elvis and his tight white jumpsuit with his chest puffed out. The King performed here for seven years and gave 837 consecutive concerts. 7. Steve Wynn builds The Mirage (1989) The Mirage Hotel opened in November 1989 thanks to Steve Wynn and his $620 million investment, which at the time was a record amount of money to build a property on the Strip, and sparked a construction boom that revolutionized the Las Vegas tourism business. Less than a decade later, he outdid himself and Vegas luxury again by opening the $1.6 billion Bellagio. 8. Birth of the Day Club (2003) Regarding nightlife, Las Vegas has always been at the top of the list, but in 2003, the Hard Rock Hotel shifted people's attention to partying during the daytime by opening the city's first-day club, Rehab. Today, more than a decade later, daylife has helped open up a niche in the party market and attracts tourists from all over the world to party when the sun comes up. Year after year, the bar for day life gets higher and higher, demanding more extensive and more exuberant pool parties. 9. The Rise of the Megaclub (2004). Although Pure nightclub at Caesars Palace closed in May, it became the Strip's first nightclub, offering multiple floors, lounges and bars, a large outdoor terrace, and world-class celebrities who hosted and frequented the venue every weekend for nearly a decade. In December 2004, after the club opened, other resorts in the city took notice, and over time, Las Vegas began to welcome the "megaclub," one of the city's defining trends that has not abated to this day.