If you’re listening to this the week it comes out, I’m going to break away from the usual format of the show to editorialize that this was a tough week, no? Sunday night, 59 people were killed and more than 520 people were injured when a gunman shot at a group of 22,000 concert-goers from 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is now the deadliest mass shooting in recent history.

Monday morning was not only a day of somber mourning, head shaking, anger, and grief. But breaking through all the bleakness, were people like Chris who hosts Faces and Aces Las Vegas, Tweeting updates and how others can help. And in The Story Behind Discussion Group on Facebook, I wanted to thank everyone who shared their stories and memories they have from Vegas: Scott, Jarrod, Hannah, Mona, Ro, Glenn and Jessica.

It may seem weird to try to do an episode about a whole city, and I will be the first to admit that I can never fully do it justice. But the more I thought about this bright, bustling city in the middle of a desert, the more interested I became in its history.

I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Las Vegas.

Listen to Faces & Aces LV's most recent episode #VegasStrong: http://www.facesandaceslv.com/vegasstrong/

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This episode was brought to you by The Story Behind Executive Producers who support the show through the Patreon Page at patreon.com/thestorybehind: Stargate Pioneer from GonnaGeek.com, Mat from the One Word, Go! Show, Sam Dunn, Diane and Denise from History Goes Bump, Scott Smith from Recovering from Religion, Dan Brenic from Netflix N’ Swill, Jarrod Dunham from TheHistoryphile.net, Heather Welch from Sunshine and PowerCuts, and Jason Bryant from Mat Talk Online, Gerald and Andy from Two Peas on a Podcast, Bandrew Scott from The Bandrew Says Podcast and Podcastage YouTube Channel, and newest Executive Producer, Adam from Everyone Has a Podcast.

Click here to support this podcast on Patreon.

Proud supporter of #PodernFamily, #HumanitiesPodcasts & #LadyPodSquad on Twitter.

Media:

Music for Makers

Sources:

Las Vegas - History.com

BOOK: Gambling in America: An Encyclopedia of History, Issues, and Society By William N. Thompson Ph.D.

DOCUMENTARY: The Real History of Las Vegas : Documentary on Las Vegas's Unconventional History

9 Things You May Not Know About Bugsy Siegel - History.com

Las Vegas Records and Firsts - Vegas Today and Tomorrow

Divorce Capital: Six-week Split Spurred Nevada Economy - Las Vegas Review Journal

Atomic Tests Were a Tourist Draw in 1950s Las Vegas - CityLab.com

How Did Las Vegas Get Its Name? - San Diego State University

History of Las Vegas - lvol.com

LAS VEGAS THEN & NOW - LasVegasNevada.gov

What is the Wash? - lvwash.org

Designer Who Created the Iconic 'Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas' Sign Has Died - TIME

To Betty Willis, Las Vegas was forever ‘Fabulous’ - Las Vegas Sun

Do’s and Don’ts for the Welcome to Las Vegas Sign - LasVegas.Com