The 1990s in Nevada were a time of massive growth, major change, and notable news. From the birth of mega-resorts to the deaths of world-famous entertainers, the Battle Born State broke through numerous barriers in the ‘90s – even the sound barrier. Check out this list of just 19 things that everyone remembers about Las Vegas in the 1990s.

  1. 1990: The Excalibur Hotel & Casino opens on the Las Vegas Strip signaling the start of Sin City’s family-friendly era

Mike McBey/Flickr During the 1990s, additional themed resorts pop up on the Las Vegas Strip including MGM Grand (‘93), Treasure Island (’93), Luxor (’93), Stratosphere (’96), Monte Carlo (’96), New York-New York (’97), Bellagio (’98), Mandalay Bay (’99), Venetian (’99), and Paris (’99).

  1. 1990: Sammy Davis Jr. dies, followed by fellow Rat Pack members Dean Martin (‘95) and Frank Sinatra (‘98)

Wikimedia / Gottlieb The lights on the Las Vegas Strip are dimmed in Sinatra’s honor.

  1. 1990: Nevada is the fastest-growing state in the country, according to the U.S. census

Wikimedia

  1. 1990: The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels basketball team crushes the Duke Blue Devils, wins coveted NCAA Championship title

Facebook / Tark Tribute The team was led to victory by late coach Jerry Tarkanian. “Tark the Shark” puppets are a temporary craze during the 1990s.

  1. 1990: Las Vegas elects its first female mayor, Jan Laverty Jones (now Jan Jones Blackhurst)

Kristin Ausk/Flickr

  1. 1991: The word “Nevada” is added to the state flag

Public domain

  1. 1991: Copper mining sees resurgence in Ely

Flickr / Mike Ault Magna Copper Co. purchases mining rights for the old Kennecott property at Ruth and establishes a state-of-the-art mill for copper mining throughout the 1990s. It shuts down in 1997.

  1. 1991: The Tailhook Scandal in Las Vegas brings the U.S. military’s misogynistic practices to light

Wikimedia / Airman Sean Mateo White Hundreds of U.S. Navy and United States Marine Corps aviation officers become embroiled in sexual assault allegations during a symposium at the former Las Vegas Hilton. The investigation leads to sweeping changes and policies encouraging the advancement of women throughout the U.S. military. In 1993, President Bill Clinton nominates the first female U.S. Secretary of the Air Force, Sheila E. Widnall (pictured above).

  1. 1992: Nevada becomes a little less “radiant,” puts an end to nuclear testing

Wikimedia

  1. 1993: Johnny Cash records his own version of the song, “I’ve Been Everywhere,” and mentions Winnemucca in the first verse

Wikimedia / xero7

  1. 1993: The Dunes is imploded with fanfare and fireworks

YouTube / CarlBWilson More implosions follow during the 1990s, including The Landmark (‘95), The Sands (‘96), The Hacienda (‘96), and the Aladdin (’98).

  1. 1994: A portion of Fremont Street is permanently closed to traffic, making way for the pedestrian-friendly Fremont Street Experience

Wikimedia /Larry D. Moore

  1. 1996: Footage from the 1995 implosion of the Landmark Hotel in Las Vegas is used in Tim Burton’s film, “Mars Attacks”

YouTube / merrillovermatter

  1. 1996: Rapper Tupac Shakur is fatally shot in Las Vegas

$amii/Flickr

  1. 1997: Boxing takes a Van Goghesque turn when Mike Tyson bites off Evander Holyfield’s ear during the WBA Heavyweight Championship in Las Vegas

Brian Birzer http://www.brianbirzer.com/Wikimedia Commons

  1. 1997: A jet-propelled car sets the first supersonic land speed record, officially breaking the sound barrier in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert

Wikimedia / Cmglee

  1. 1998: Las Vegas casino mogul Ted Binion’s death is the subject of controversy

Wikimedia / Ken Lund One of the two suspects in the possible murder is caught digging up a vault in Pahrump containing Binion’s secret silver treasure.

  1. 1998: 59 percent of Nevada voters support the legalization of medical marijuana

Flickr / Dank Depot

  1. 1999: Former mob attorney Oscar Goodman is elected mayor of Las Vegas

Flickr / Marc Cooper Later that year, his likeness was placed on $5 and $25 casino chips at the Four Queens hotel-casino in downtown Las Vegas.

How many of these things do you remember about Las Vegas in the 1990s? Did you live in the city during this decade or do you just remember from news articles and media coverage? We’d love to hear about your experiences and if there is anything we left off this list, let us know in the comments!

Mike McBey/Flickr

During the 1990s, additional themed resorts pop up on the Las Vegas Strip including MGM Grand (‘93), Treasure Island (’93), Luxor (’93), Stratosphere (’96), Monte Carlo (’96), New York-New York (’97), Bellagio (’98), Mandalay Bay (’99), Venetian (’99), and Paris (’99).

Wikimedia / Gottlieb

The lights on the Las Vegas Strip are dimmed in Sinatra’s honor.

Wikimedia

Facebook / Tark Tribute

The team was led to victory by late coach Jerry Tarkanian. “Tark the Shark” puppets are a temporary craze during the 1990s.

Kristin Ausk/Flickr

Public domain

Flickr / Mike Ault

Magna Copper Co. purchases mining rights for the old Kennecott property at Ruth and establishes a state-of-the-art mill for copper mining throughout the 1990s. It shuts down in 1997.

Wikimedia / Airman Sean Mateo White

Hundreds of U.S. Navy and United States Marine Corps aviation officers become embroiled in sexual assault allegations during a symposium at the former Las Vegas Hilton. The investigation leads to sweeping changes and policies encouraging the advancement of women throughout the U.S. military. In 1993, President Bill Clinton nominates the first female U.S. Secretary of the Air Force, Sheila E. Widnall (pictured above).

Wikimedia / xero7

YouTube / CarlBWilson

More implosions follow during the 1990s, including The Landmark (‘95), The Sands (‘96), The Hacienda (‘96), and the Aladdin (’98).

Wikimedia /Larry D. Moore

YouTube / merrillovermatter

$amii/Flickr

Brian Birzer http://www.brianbirzer.com/Wikimedia Commons

Wikimedia / Cmglee

Wikimedia / Ken Lund

One of the two suspects in the possible murder is caught digging up a vault in Pahrump containing Binion’s secret silver treasure.

Flickr / Dank Depot

Flickr / Marc Cooper

Later that year, his likeness was placed on $5 and $25 casino chips at the Four Queens hotel-casino in downtown Las Vegas.

If you remember many of these events from the 1990s, you will also enjoy 13 things you’ll remember if you grew up in the 80s in Nevada.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Address: Las Vegas, NV, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

Las Vegas in the 1990s January 09, 2023 Courtnie Erickson What are some incredible sights and attractions in Las Vegas that I should check out? While Las Vegas in the 1990s was quite an interesting time, today the city deserves a spot on every bucket list. There is truly something for everyone in this incredible desert city in Nevada including the following activities:

Walk the Las Vegas Strip Watch the fountain show at the Bellagio Explore the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden Take a ride on the High Roller Take a stroll down Fremont Street Check out the Neon Boneyard

  How can I escape into nature when visiting Las Vegas? It is possible to escape into nature when visiting Las Vegas and one of the best places to go is Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Just a short drive from Las Vegas, this is a beautiful destination that the entire family will enjoy exploring. A few things you should know about this area include:

There are more than 26 hiking trails in the area. Bring a tent as there are camping options for those who wish to spend multiple days here. There are incredible red rocks to climb on and hike around. This area attracts more than two million people every single year. There is a small entrance fee for accessing the conservation area.

  What are some hidden gems in Nevada? Yes, Las Vegas is home to incredible attractions but there is so much more to the Silver State. In fact, there are dozens of hidden gems all around the state that you will want to check out and enjoy. A few of these incredible locations include:

Valley of Fire State Park Pyramid Lake Lamoille Canyon 12-Mile Hot Springs Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area Truckee River Whitewater Park Jarbridge Wilderness

The OIYS Visitor Center

Las Vegas in the 1990s

January 09, 2023

Courtnie Erickson

What are some incredible sights and attractions in Las Vegas that I should check out? While Las Vegas in the 1990s was quite an interesting time, today the city deserves a spot on every bucket list. There is truly something for everyone in this incredible desert city in Nevada including the following activities:

Walk the Las Vegas Strip Watch the fountain show at the Bellagio Explore the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden Take a ride on the High Roller Take a stroll down Fremont Street Check out the Neon Boneyard

  How can I escape into nature when visiting Las Vegas? It is possible to escape into nature when visiting Las Vegas and one of the best places to go is Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Just a short drive from Las Vegas, this is a beautiful destination that the entire family will enjoy exploring. A few things you should know about this area include:

There are more than 26 hiking trails in the area. Bring a tent as there are camping options for those who wish to spend multiple days here. There are incredible red rocks to climb on and hike around. This area attracts more than two million people every single year. There is a small entrance fee for accessing the conservation area.

  What are some hidden gems in Nevada? Yes, Las Vegas is home to incredible attractions but there is so much more to the Silver State. In fact, there are dozens of hidden gems all around the state that you will want to check out and enjoy. A few of these incredible locations include:

Valley of Fire State Park Pyramid Lake Lamoille Canyon 12-Mile Hot Springs Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area Truckee River Whitewater Park Jarbridge Wilderness

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

While Las Vegas in the 1990s was quite an interesting time, today the city deserves a spot on every bucket list. There is truly something for everyone in this incredible desert city in Nevada including the following activities:

  • Walk the Las Vegas Strip
  • Watch the fountain show at the Bellagio
  • Explore the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden
  • Take a ride on the High Roller
  • Take a stroll down Fremont Street
  • Check out the Neon Boneyard

 

How can I escape into nature when visiting Las Vegas?

It is possible to escape into nature when visiting Las Vegas and one of the best places to go is Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Just a short drive from Las Vegas, this is a beautiful destination that the entire family will enjoy exploring. A few things you should know about this area include:

  • There are more than 26 hiking trails in the area.
  • Bring a tent as there are camping options for those who wish to spend multiple days here.
  • There are incredible red rocks to climb on and hike around.
  • This area attracts more than two million people every single year.
  • There is a small entrance fee for accessing the conservation area.

What are some hidden gems in Nevada?

Yes, Las Vegas is home to incredible attractions but there is so much more to the Silver State. In fact, there are dozens of hidden gems all around the state that you will want to check out and enjoy. A few of these incredible locations include:

  • Valley of Fire State Park
  • Pyramid Lake
  • Lamoille Canyon
  • 12-Mile Hot Springs
  • Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area
  • Truckee River Whitewater Park
  • Jarbridge Wilderness