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May 5, 2026

How Wild West Was Las Vegas, Really?

City Cast Las Vegas

How Wild West Was Las Vegas, Really?

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Helldorado Days is back and with it comes the annual parade through Downtown Las Vegas celebrating the city’s Western roots. But how deep do those roots actually go? Turns out, Las Vegas’s relationship with the Wild West is a lot more complicated than the cowboy hats and rodeo vibes might suggest. We’re revisiting our conversation with UNLV history professor Michael Green hosted by food historian Sarah Lohman to untangle the myth from the reality.

Tell us what corners of Las Vegas history you want us to dig into next. And if you want to keep this kind of storytelling coming, become a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor today!


This spring, we partnered with Oxford Pennant to create something special for new City Cast Neighbors. It's a custom American-made wool felt pennant designed for people who love this city as much as we do. Become a Neighbor during our spring campaign to snag yours!

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.

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