Origin of the name 'Las Vegas' and the original springs

The name "Las Vegas" is Spanish for "the meadows," applied to the valley in the 19th century because of natural springs and meadowland that supported early settlement. The Springs Preserve interprets and preserves the site of those original Las Vegas Springs and includes exhibits about the valley’s water history and early irrigation. Locals sometimes jokingly contrast the historic meadow origins with the modern neon-and-desert image of the Strip. The preserve operates as an educational and recreational site documenting the city’s environmental and settlement history.