Louis La Porta served on the City Council of Henderson, Nevada and the Board of Clark County, Nevada and oversaw periods of great growth. He was born in 1924 in New York City, but his service in the United States Air Force pulled him out West. After settling in Henderson, Nevada, with his wife Elayne, La Porta became interested in insurance sales and local politics. While in office, La Porta oversaw the development of critical roads for Clark County, the Henderson Historical Society, and Henderson Libraries. He recounts each of these major developments in his interview, chronicling the evolution of Henderson, Nevada, into a major city.
Text
On March 20, 1978, collector Samuel Barto interviewed paint and drywall contractor, Louis Fisher (born July 10, 1922, in Alva, Oklahoma) in North Las Vegas, Nevada. The interview took place at the collector’s home with the collector, Mr. Barto and Mr. and Mrs. Fisher present. Mr. Fisher relocated to Las Vegas in 1953 after having lived in Alva, Oklahoma, Portland, Oregon, and Walla Walla, Washington. During the interview, Mr. Fisher discusses the history of Las Vegas from 1953 and offers key insight into the rapid growth of Las Vegas with special focus on the Strip, banks, the steady influx of people moving to Las Vegas for the warm climate, and housing.
Text
Image
The Central Nevada Historical Society Photograph Collection (1880-1982) contains photographs from central Nevada towns, mines, and railroads. The photographs primarily depict events and mining operations from the early-twentieth century in or around Tonopah, Goldfield, Belmont, Manhattan, Montezuma, and Big Smoky Valley. The photographs also depict the Tonopah & Goldfield Railroad, the Las Vegas & Tonopah Railroad, the "Priscilla" nuclear bomb test at the Nevada Test Site, horse-drawn freight carriages, and building construction. Other towns also featured in the collection include Silver Peak, Bullfrog, Rawhide, Ellendale, Columbus, Berlin, Palmetto, Gilbert, Blair, Klondyke, Wahmonie, Diamondfield, Miller's, and Candelaria.
Archival Collection
Image
Part of an interview Ruth Eppenger D'Hondt conducted by Claytee D. White on August 25, 2011. D'Hondt shares memories of her parents' restaurant.
Sound