Established in 1905, Las Vegas (Spanish for The Meadows) became a city in 1911. Once titled Sin City because of the preponderance of Casinos and more dubious adult entertainment venues along the Las Vegas Strip, the city experienced exponential growth as a result of the construction of the Hoover Dam in 1935, which brought fresh life to this previously arid part of the Nevada desert.
However in recent times Las Vegas has undergone something of a makeover and now bills itself The Entertainment Capital of the World. This is a justifiable epithet as Las Vegas now hosts some of the longest running and most spectacular music and cabaret seasons anywhere on Earth. Fans of Celine Dion, Beyoncé and Neil Diamond can see their favourites in concert whilst relaxing in first-class hotels and enjoy a wide range of fine dining.