People come to Las Vegas to gamble, see shows, party and generally behave in ways they never would back home. But there are a few who come for other reasons and are interested in more than the current ‘Club du ‘Jour’ or simply walking the strip. Some people are actually interested in the history and culture of the area – even before neon, interstates and Bugsy Siegel began shaping it into what it is today. For those more interested in the history books than the sports books, here are the top five places to visit:

1. Starting at the beginning, you might choose to visit the Springs Preserve on Valley View. This 180 acre attraction boasts botanical gardens, family-oriented events, trails, traveling exhibits and more. For a grass-roots historical perspective, you’ll want to visit the Origen Museum on the grounds, the name derived from two words: original and generations. There, you can explore the Las Vegas Valley from early American cultures to Anglo-European settlers.
2. The Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort, just north of the downtown and Fremont Street area, has been called the true birthplace of Las Vegas. This restored setting tells the story of some of the first settlers with activities scheduled throughout the year such as Dutch oven cooking contests and Adobe Brick Making Demonstrations. For the $1 admission fee, you can step back in time and experience how the west was really won.
3. At one time, gambling was illegal in the state of Nevada. In 1910, a strict anti-gambling law forbade even the western custom of flipping a coin for the price of a drink. Gambling at the local level was legalized again in 1931 and eventually many mobsters saw the potential that it offered in Las Vegas. Thus the influence of organized crime was established and is highlighted at the Mob Museum, located near the Fremont Street area. This unique museum is not just about Vegas but about the war between the criminal underworld and law enforcement on a national scale.
4. Visitors to Las Vegas in the 1950′s may have seen huge mushroom clouds rise from the Nevada Test Site, northwest of the city. In fact, some casinos even offered people seats so they could watch. The National Atomic Testing Museum is an interactive experience which delves into pop culture as well as science and history, focusing on radioactivity, nuclear testing and atomic bombs. This is especially fascinating to anyone who grew up during the cold war era.
5. Celebrating the history of ‘Glitter Gulch’ in a different way, the Neon Museum, located at 821 Las Vegas Boulevard North, has been called a boneyard of scrapped advertising. It’s not necessarily a pretty sight but to those who love Vegas, it represents a monument to the artistry and history of creative advertising in a town that eventually became known for its glittering lights, visible for miles in the evening sky. Like an Elder of the tribe, each piece has its own story to tell.