Old Mormon Fort Walk Conclusion April 8, 2026

Old Mormon Fort and Las Vegas history 1855 Mormons settled in what is now the Las Vegas Valley and built the Old Mormon Fort 1857 Mormons abandon the fort 1860 Union troops take over Old Mormon Fort and rename it Fort Baker 1861 Nevada Territory established 1864 Nevada Statehood 1865 Octavious D Gass obtains the Old Mormon Fort and establishes the Los Vegas Ranch (1902 renamed to Las Vegas Ranch) 1867 The Arizona Territory seceded land to Nevada because Arizona was punished for joining the Confederacy during the Civil War. The western portion of Arizona Counties of Pah-Ute and some of Mojave was seceded to Nevada creating the current southern boundary of Nevada. The land from Arizona was added to Esmeralda, Nye, and Lincoln Counties. 1870s Conrad Kiel established a cabin and sawmill in what is now Kyle Canyon in the Spring mountains. 1875 Conrad Kiel established the Kiel Family Ranch 1881 Octavious D Gass defaulted on loan from Archibald Stewart. Gass used his Los Vegas Ranch on the grounds of the Old Mormon Fort as collateral. Archibald and Helen Stewart take over the Los Vegas Ranch at the Old Mormon Fort 1884 Archibald Stewart was murdered on the Kiel Ranch by Schuyler Henry (Henry left his employment at the Los Vegas Ranch two days before murdering Archibald Stewart.) No one was charged for the murder. *Side notes there are articles on the internet that report Henry Schuyler was hanged in the Elko County Jail Nevada for a string of murders. That is incorrect Henry “Hank” Parrish was the outlaw hanged in the Elko County jail 1900 Ed and William Kiel were found dead at the Kiel Ranch. It was believed to be a murder suicide. (bodies were exhumed in 1975 and forensic testing indicated both men were murdered not a murder suicide) 1902 Helen Stewart was the largest landowner in Lincoln County sold 1,843 acres of land with Water rights to Willam A. Clark owner of the San Pedro Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad and the Las Vegas Land and Water Company 1904 Hellen Stewart sold 80 acres without water rights to J T McWilliams. He established the McWilliams Townsites, but it failed due to scarcity of water. (Later his townsite became the Historic Westside of Las Vegas.) 1905 William A Clark started the Las Vegas Townsite. (Later his townsite became the City of Las Vegas) 1909 Clark County was formed by dividing Lincoln County. Clark County was named in honor of William A. Clark (Copper magnet from Montana and a Montana U. S. Senator, owner of the San Pedro Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad and the Las Vegas Land and Water Company) 1911 Las Vegas Nevada was incorporated 1855 Mormons settled in what is now the Las Vegas Valley and built the Old Mormon Fort. Most of what is at the Old Mormon Fort is a reconstruction. However, parts of the eastern wall and portion of the southeastern bastion are original parts of the Old Mormon Fort. The Old Mormon Fort was part of the Los Vegas Rancho own by Octavius D Gass and later by Archibald and Helen Stewart. It was also a resort and a cement testing laboratory. The City of Las Vegas acquired the fort in in 1989 and in 1991 Nevada acquired the Old Mormon Fort and turned it into a state park affording with much needed protection. According to the Internet the Mormons left the Las Vegas Valley in 1857 due to a combination of factors, including crop failures, disappointing yields from lead mining and, internal conflicts. There were also tensions between the Native Americans and the Mormons. Additionally, the Mormons were recalled by Bringham Young to concentrate their forces and defenses in anticipation of the Utah War, a conflict between the Mormons and the U.S. government.