Ah, Nevada: the state that has it all. From Sin City to eerie ghost towns, there is so much to experience in the Silver State. Nevada has always been an innovator, creating the standard for entertainment, development in aerospace engineering, and adapting to and celebrating its environment.
Nevada is known for Las Vegas, the city of lights where fortune-seekers aim to get lucky. Nevada is also famous for its jaw-dropping dramatic landscapes and famous state parks. Nevada’s rich history, obsession with aliens, and leadership among various industries make it a truly unique state.
Come explore the 21 things Nevada is known for!
Table of Contents
1. The Strip
Lights, dreams of hitting the jackpot, and entertainment around every corner: The Las Vegas Strip is Nevada’s most well-known claim to fame.
No matter the time of day, you’re sure to see people having a good time in Sin City.
Legendary mobster Bugsy Siegel is to thank for kick-starting the Las Vegas we know today. In the 1940s, Siegel opened the Flamingo and immediately booked top-tier talent to entertain a slew of celebrities at its opening.
This event put Las Vegas on everyone’s radar. In the 50s and 60s, mobsters helped build an array of new casinos backed by respectable figures like Wall Street, Princeton University, and the Mormon Church.
Casinos pushed advertising for major performers like Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Dean Martin. Seemingly overnight, Las Vegas was the place to be.
In the 1980s, the classic casinos were rebuilt into the themed mega-giants they are today. Now, around 41 million people visit the Strip every year. It has 10 of the largest hotels in the world and, due to its thousands of lights, is considered the brightest spot on Earth!
2. Shrimp city
Nevada has been home to many top-tier chefs like Gordon Ramsey, Bobby Flay, and Guy Fieri. With so many famous eateries, it may come as a surprise that Nevada’s most famous dish is none other than a shrimp cocktail.
Though the dish was allegedly created in Boston, Nevada claims to have made it the staple that it is today. The shrimp cocktail made its debut at the Golden Gate Casino in 1959, where it sold for only 50¢!
On average, the Golden Gate Casino sells up to 2,000 shrimp cocktails in one day. The city of Las Vegas supplies over 60,000 pounds of shrimp daily!
Though many restaurants in Nevada have adopted the shrimp cocktail, visitors still line up for the famous Golden Gate Casino cocktail to experience a taste of vintage Vegas.
3. Seven Magic Mountains
If you’ve ever driven from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, you’ve probably seen the Seven Magic Mountains.
Completed in 2016, this roadside art installation consists of painted, locally-sourced boulders stacked 30 to 35 feet high.
Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone created this piece to critique the fabrication of nature, especially in places like Las Vegas.
Rondinone created a unique juxtaposition between the artificial and natural by having one side of the installment be the mountains and the other the busy highway.
4. Ghost towns
During the 19th-century mining boom, people flocked to Nevada by the thousands hoping to get lucky. But when the silver dried up, so did the towns, leaving 600 vacant villages.
With a dark history of Wild West violence, Nelson Ghost Town is a favorite haunt among visitors.
It was established by deserters of the Civil War who were hoping to get lucky mining for gold. Greedy miners often resolved conflict through bloodshed, creating many spirits who still haunt the mines today.
Berlin Ghost Town, a part of Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park, is famous for being the discovery site of the world’s largest concentration of pre-historic Ichthyosaur fossils!
It also feels like a town frozen in time; it still has many standing buildings from the 1800s, including mining offices and a blacksmith shop.
Located along the Nevada/Idaho border, Jarbridge ghost town sits on land the Shoshone Indians believed to be patronized by an evil man-eating giant.
Half of the town burned to the ground due to a mishap at a whiskey distillery, leaving only a few buildings like the jail, brothel, and old hotels in pristine condition today. Perhaps the land is cursed…
5. Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe has been a fan-favorite destination since the 1860s. As North America’s largest alpine lake, it spans through California and Nevada. Many visitors claim the east side of the lake in Nevada is the best part to visit. Why you may ask?
Famous author Mark Twain spent time in this region and used his experience to write his book Roughing It. To sum up the beauty of the lake, Twain wrote, “I thought it must surely be the fairest picture the whole earth affords.”
Aside from its breathtaking beauty, Lake Tahoe is famous for a slew of family fun activities! In the winter, skiers and snowboarders can enjoy fresh powder in the Tahoe Mountains. Whereas hiking, kayaking, and swimming are popular in the summer.
Perhaps the coolest thing to do in Lake Tahoe is to visit California’s first underwater state park. Yes, you read that right – underwater.
The Emerald Bay Underwater State Park has the nation’s largest and most diverse group of sunken shipwrecks known to exist in their original location. Some of these ruins have been there for centuries! If you’re visiting Tahoe, it’s an absolute must-do activity.
6. Area 51
The mysterious Area 51 has been at the forefront of conspiracy theories since the 80s. So, what is the government really keeping there? Aliens? UFOs?
The reality is a little…boring.
Area 51 is a U.S. Air Force facility, officially titled the Nevada Test and Training Range. It has several nicknames: Paradise Ranch, the Ranch, Watertown, and Dreamland.
In 2019, a viral Facebook event created by California native Matty Roberts had over two million people sign up to storm Area 51. The event was so popular that the FBI showed up at Roberts’ door to investigate.
Thankfully, only a few thousand people showed up, none of whom were actually planning to storm the facility. Those who trekked out to the desert made the most of their journey by having a party known as Alien-Stock.
Nevada has always been alien-obsessed. Countless people have claimed to see extraterrestrials along Nevada’s long, isolated highways. So much so that they even renamed State Route 375 the Extraterrestrial Highway.
Though no other-worldly guests showed up to the Alien-Stock, Bud Light did release a special-edition can featuring an alien giving a peace sign.
7. Festivals
Nevada’s vast landscape and notoriety for entertainment make it the perfect state to house many unique festivals.
Nevada is famous for Burning Man Black Rock Desert, a yearly retreat that feels more like a lifestyle than a festival. Attendees travel to the middle of the desert and set up a city, focusing on connections, music, and artistic freedom.
Electric Daisy Carnival Festival, an electronic music festival, and Psycho Vegas Fest, a rock festival, both promote community through music. Psycho Fest is so popular it’s voted “Best Festival” by Las Vegas Weekly pretty much every year.
Into Renaissance fairs? Equipped with villages to wander through, countless performers to watch, and over 100 vendors to buy from, the Age of Chivalry Renaissance Fair is one to look out for. People often take advantage of the onsite camping grounds for optimal time travel.
Other famous Nevada festivals include Life is Beautiful, which celebrates music, learning, and art; the Great Reno Balloon Race, which is the world’s largest free hot-air ballooning event; and the Best Dam Barbecue Challenge, where nearly 40 teams compete near the Hoover Dam for the title of best barbecuer.
8. Cheers in the sky
Scared of heights? Maybe this famous Vegas attraction isn’t for you. Standing 550 feet tall, the High Roller is the world’s largest Ferris wheel.
It has 28 spacious, air-conditioned cabins, each one accommodating up to 25 guests. The Ferris wheel has a “Happy Half Hour” deal where guests can enjoy an open bar for the whole 30-minute ride!
The High Roller is the perfect experience for thrill seekers looking to take a break from the busy Strip. Want to have a one-of-a-kind wedding? Skip the “married by Elvis” cliche and book a cabin to tie the knot! They’ll even provide wedding amenities like flowers, music, and photography.
9. Not just fun and games
With Las Vegas’s reputation as the party capital of the U.S., it’s not a shock that tourism is Nevada’s top industry.
The Silver State generates billions of dollars every year from tourism. With gambling being legal and incredibly popular, gambling taxes serve as the primary source of state revenue. More than 315,000 jobs are created by the tourism and entertainment industry alone!
For regions outside of Reno and Las Vegas, the mining industry serves as a huge economic engine. It’s also Nevada’s largest export industry and has secured Nevada as one of the largest producers of gold in the world.
With vast lands to test rockets, the aerospace industry has made a splash in Nevada. The field currently has more than 13,000 employees who earn upwards of $78,000 annually.
Other top industries in Nevada include health, manufacturing, and agriculture.
10. Blue jeans
While the popular story tells us that Levi Strauss invented blue jeans, Jacob Davis from Reno, Nevada was the true creator.
Davis was a tailor who made pants for miners. However, a problem arose: the pants he was making weren’t tough enough to withstand the conditions of the job. He then created a pair of pants with tougher fasteners and more durable cloth.
Thus, the birth of the blue jean.
Due to the product’s popularity, Davis knew he needed to act fast to protect his idea. Davis lacked the money to buy a patent so he reached out to Levi Strauss, a German business owner.
The two took out a patent and, I guess you could say, the rest is history. Though the name Levi is synonymous with jeans, Davis was the manager behind the operations. He was the one who truly knew how the pants should function.
11. Famous people
Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com
With numerous performance venues, acres of beautiful landscape, and frequent warm weather, it makes a lot of sense that Nevada is flooded with famous residents.
Stars like actor Matthew Gray Gubler, all members of the band Imagine Dragons, stock car racer Kyle Busch, former First Lady Patricia Ryan Nixon, and actress Rutina Wesley all hail from the Silver State.
Many famous people like Carrot Top, Chris Angel, and Celine Dion settled in Vegas during their residences and continue to call Nevada home to this day.
Stars like ghost investigator Zak Bagans, retired boxers Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Mike Tyson, actor Nicolas Cage, and DJ Steve Aioki have also been longtime residents.
12. Mighty beasts
Not feeling the long flight to Africa to see lions? Why not travel to Nevada instead? That’s right. Nevada is known for having a lion sanctuary.
Henderson’s Lion Habitat Ranch, open since 1989, aims to be a refuge for lions who have either retired from Las Vegas entertainment or have been rescued from across the country.
The ranch offers many up close and personal educational programs. A favorite among visitors is the highly unique (and a little scary) Feast with the Beasts – a private party experience where guests eat at a glass-enclosed table surrounded by lions.
Another popular activity at the ranch is the Behind the Scenes Tour, which guides visitors through the feeding, cleaning, and bathing process for the animals.
The ranch is a major advocate for education surrounding African lions as well. They donate to many charitable campaigns, including Conservation International in Kenya, the Campaign Against Canned Hunting, and SanWild.
Fun fact: It costs about $10,000 per year to feed one male lion and $8,000 for the females.
13. Odd museums
Everyone knows that Nevada is a leader in the entertainment world; whether it’s Adele selling out every night, magic shows, acrobatic performances, or any one of Nevada’s odd, yet mesmerizing museums.
Though I’ve been watching Zak Bagans on Ghost Adventures for years, I’m too chicken to go to his Haunted Museum.
With more than 30 rooms full of haunted and possessed items, visitors have seen shadows pass by and my friend even heard a voice telling her when she was going to die. Artifacts include a Dybbuk Box, which is famous for being the world’s most haunted object, and the original staircase from Indiana’s Demon House.
If you’re feeling extra brave, book the Late Night Flashlight Tour; an intimate free-roam of the museum by flashlight.
Goldwell Open Air Museum is a 15-acre outdoor sculpture park near the ghost town of Rhyolite. Guests can encounter a spectral, life-sized interpretation of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper that’s both haunting and beautiful.
Other fan favorites include a tangle of chrome car parts as well as a winged woman reaching for the sun.
Showgirls are intertwined with the dazzle of Las Vegas, so it’s no surprise Nevada is famous for its Burlesque Hall of Fame Museum.
Dedicated to preserving and celebrating the art of burlesque, visitors can see thousands of costumes, stage props, and photographs from burlesque performers throughout history.
Other unique museums include the Pinball Hall of Fame, where guests can play from any of their 700 machines; Wilbur D. May Museum, which boasts the private collection of the world traveler by the same name; and the Neon Museum, full of neon signs.
14. A natural soak
The natural phenomenon of hot springs is rich throughout the Nevada landscape. But one of the most famous destinations is Spencer Hot Springs.
For thousands of years, American Indians have utilized these calming springs as a place to soak and take in the dramatic views Nevada is famous for.
Spencer Hot Springs is a favorite among visitors since it seems to always be perfect. No matter what time of year, the water hits the perfect temperature to relax in. Plus, it’s in an excellent spot to witness the beauty of the Toiyabe National Forest.
If you’ve already made the trek to Spencer, I highly suggest taking a quick 30-minute drive to Toquima Cave. The Shoshone people deemed this rock sacred and used it for temporary housing more than 1,500 years ago.
Toquima Cave is famous for being one of the best examples of pictographs in North America, with well-preserved, numerous, colorful drawings from indigenous people.
15. Razzle dazzle
From the birth of the Strip to now, Vegas has always set the precedent for what it means to put on a good show.
In the 1950s, Vegas rapidly became the destination for the world’s top performers. Stars like Liberace and Elvis graced the stage every night. With the rise of the Rat Pack (Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop), a new wave of entertainment struck the city.
The Rat Pack was known for its spontaneity in concert. They would often crash each other’s shows so much so that a marquee once read “Dean Martin, Maybe Frank, Maybe Sammy”. This revolutionary new sense of excitement and fun launched Vegas into stardom and set a precedent for entertainment around the world.
With the 1960s came a new standard for entertainment: over the top. Showgirls became popular and performances like Jubilee! cost $10 million and showcased headdresses that weighed in the double digits.
In the 1990s, Las Vegas popularized magicians, circus performers, and acts that took risks. Vegas pushed the limits of what was possible, blowing people’s minds, and leaving them begging to come back for more.
The magic of Vegas is summed up perfectly by the staff for Visit Las Vegas, “Las Vegas has never followed the trends; it has set them. And, by all accounts, it’s expected to keep doing that in the future.”.
16. Sports obsession
All around the world, people take their sports very seriously. Throughout the United States, people fight over who the better team is, obsessively research stats, and create fantasy leagues to fully immerse themselves in the experience.
So, it might be a shock to learn that Nevada is the most sports-obsessed state in the country!
While Nevada has teams ranging from hockey and soccer to basketball and baseball, residents are die-hard fans of their football team the Las Vegas Raiders.
Perhaps the reason why Nevadans love sports so much is due to the state’s pioneer policy on sports betting. It’s one of 36 states to have legalized it, but it’s famous for being the first one to do so.
Nevada’s sports betting industry rakes in record-breaking revenue of $446.7 million with a total amount of wagers reaching $8.7 billion in 2022!
17. What’s in a name?
People have referred to Nevada by many names, but where do these names come from?
Nevada, translating from Spanish to “snow clad”, is derived from the Sierra Nevada mountains that run through the state.
In the 1850s, with the gold rush, Nevada was nicknamed “the Silver State” due to its immense amount of silver. This boom caused a huge migration to Nevada, leading it to become the 36th state.
Other nicknames include “The Sagebrush State”, for the abundance of sagebrush, and “Battle Born State” since it became a state due to the Civil War.
18. Hoover Dam
If you grew up in America, odds are you’ve at least heard of the Hoover Dam. But do you know how revolutionary its creation was?
Constructed during the Great Depression, not only does the dam protect Southern California and Arizona from devastating floods but it also irrigates over 1.5 million acres of land, supplies water to over 16 million people, and provides enough energy to power over 500,000 homes!
The dam is as tall as a 60-story building with a base as thick as two football fields long. It was once the world’s largest dam! It was so significant that during World War II, it was the target of a German bomb plot.
Today, visitors can explore the famous dam either by taking a tour or driving over it.
19. Fremont Street
Long before the Las Vegas Strip existed, there was Fremont Street. A bustling hub for casinos during a time when liquor was outlawed, except in hotels.
The first hotel built on Fremont Street was the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, famous for popularizing the shrimp cocktail. Now, people can travel to Fremont Street to step back in time to vintage Vegas.
Millions of visitors flock to the Fremont Street Experience every year to celebrate the old glamor of Vegas. It covers five city blocks with free live music, lots of museums to wander into, and of course many casinos to gamble the night away.
20. Stunning landscapes
Nevada is famous for its incredibly breathtaking landscapes. Arid deserts surrounded by striking mountains make it the perfect place for parks.
Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada’s oldest and largest state park, is a top tourist attraction. With otherworldly Aztec sandstone formations that look like fire, it’s a breathtaking spot for hiking or camping under the stars. It even has petroglyphs dating back more than 2,000 years!
Red Rock Canyon sees nearly 2 million explorers every year, and once you see pictures of the park, it’s easy to understand why.
Forming 65 million years ago, Red Rock is known for its red-banded canyons, towering sandstone peaks, and ancient petroglyphs. If you’re not a fan of hiking the grounds, one of the best ways to explore Nevada’s first National Conservation Area is to drive through it!
Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park sits in the town of Ely, a once prosperous mining town. During the mineral boom, six beehive-shaped charcoal ovens were erected to help process the silver ore mined in the area.
However, when the mines cleared up, the beehives were abandoned. Rumor has it that they were often used as hideout spots for stagecoach bandits.
21. History repeats itself
The Silver State has been home to many for roughly 14,800 years. Tribes like Shoshone, Paiute, and Washoe dominated the land until the first Europeans explored the region.
In the late 1850s, a massive deposit of silver called Comstock Lode was discovered. Fortune seekers flocked to the site to try their hand at getting lucky. A few years later, Nevada became the 36th state after the Mexican-American War.
When the mines dried up, many left, leaving Nevada like the Wild West we see in the movies. Bandits and cowboys roamed the land hoping to score on passers-by.
Luckily, the rise of casinos led to another huge population boom in Nevada, creating the bustling cities we know today.
It’s a little poetic that Nevada started as a place people ran to in the hopes of getting rich quickly and how, to this day, it remains a mecca for fortune seekers to try their luck.
Do you have a favorite experience in Nevada? Share your story in the comments below!
