Downtown Las Vegas in Clark County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Las Vegas Paiute Colony

1911

Photographed By Michael Kindig, July 4, 2009

1. Las Vegas Paiute Colony Marker

Inscription. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) bought this ten-acre site in 1911 from Helen J. Stewart, former owner of the Las Vegas Ranch, to provide a home for the Southern Paiute Indians living in and near Las Vegas. With this purchase, the government officially recognized the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe.

Paiutes displaced from traditional lands needed a place to live in Las Vegas where they could find work and services. The BIA created this small reservation to improve government supervision of these "scattered" Indians and protect them from being chased off by white settlers. A school opened here in the fall of 1912 but closed after a few months because the students left the city with their parents to work outside Las Vegas or gather pine nuts in the mountains. Living conditions here were very poor until the 1960s, when the federal government stepped in to build homes, pave streets and bring in city water.

The colony houses people who work in the city. The Tribal Council has its offices here and operates the Smoke Shop. Tribal members share in the profits. In 1983, Congress added 3,800 acres northwest of the city to Las vegas Paiute holdings where some tribal members now live. The tribe also developed a portion as the Snow Mountain Resort, with a golf course, mini-mart and gas station.

Erected by

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the City of Las Vegas, Clark County, Preserve America & the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act. (Marker Number 13.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.

Location. 36° 11.072′ N, 115° 8.288′ W. Marker is in Las Vegas, Nevada, in Clark County. It is in Downtown Las Vegas. Marker is at the intersection of North Main Street and Paiute Drive, on the right when traveling south on North Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1225 North Main Street, Las Vegas NV 89101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Woodlawn Cemetery (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Woodlawn Cemetery (approx. 0.3 miles away); First Las Vegas Post Office (approx. 0.4 miles away); Las Vegas Fort (approx. 0.4 miles away); Helen Jane Wiser Stewart (approx. 0.4 miles away); Old Mormon Fort (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Las Vegas Mormon Fort (approx. 0.4 miles away); Las Vegas Old Mormon Fort (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Las Vegas.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. The Pioneer Trail - West Las Vegas

Also see . . . Las Vegas Paiute Colony page on www.LasVegasPioneerTrail.com.

Photographed By Michael Kindig, July 4, 2009

2. Las Vegas Paiute Colony Marker

Visit the www.LasVegasPioneerTrail.com to learn more about the Las Vegas Paiute Colony (Submitted on October 31, 2020, by Deuce Brandt of North Las Vegas, Nevada.)

Photographed By Michael Kindig, July 4, 2009

3. Smoke Shop

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 8, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 1,224 times since then and 48 times this year. Last updated on December 28, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 8, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.