Cathie and Chris Millson moved to Las Vegas with their one-year-old daughter, Nicole, in 1984 following Chris’s completion of a cardio-thoracic anesthesiology fellowship in Atlanta, Georgia. Their two other children were born in Las Vegas. Shortly after they arrived they purchased the Rancho Bel Air house where they currently reside. Cathie talks about raising her children and living in Rancho Bel Air, a gated neighborhood of custom houses, which grew to maturity after the Millsons moved in. Cathie’s memories chronicle the growth of Las Vegas from small town to large city, how a certain segment of the population lived and entertained, and how downtown revitalization has brought young people back to Rancho Bel Air to raise their families.

Construction of the Union Plaza Hotel and Casino looking southeast.

Transcribed Notes: Transcribed from photo sleeve: "Construction of the Union Plaza Hotel & Casino: The Union Pacific Railroad and Las Vegas Freeway lie in background. Feb. 10, 1971."

Aerial view of downtown Las Vegas and the valley looking towards Frenchman Mountain.

Aerial view of Las Vegas, looking east down Fremont Street. Jackie Gaughan's Plaza was originally named Union Plaza and is currently called the Plaza Hotel and Casino.

Transcribed Notes: Transcribed from back of photo: "Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas as it appeared in the late 1940s. In the foreground stands the Union Pacific Depot where Jackie Gaughan's Plaza stands today."

Looking west down Fremont Street in 1942. Signature on back of photo: "S Vinci for '91."
Site Name: Fremont Street
Address: Fremont street, Las Vegas, NV

Looking West Down Fremont Street in 1991. Signature on back of photo: "S Vinci for '91."
Site Name: Fremont Street
Address: Fremont street, Las Vegas, NV

Golden Nugget on Fremont Street in the late 1970s. Also visible are the Horseshoe, the Golden Gate, the Vegas Vic sign, and the Plaza.
Site Name: Fremont Street
Address: Fremont street, Las Vegas, NV