Columnist Susan Snyder: Historic project is Wright idea

Friday, Feb. 1, 2002 | 4:26 a.m.

In a small office on the second floor of Clark County's Regional Transportation Commission building, history is being made.

Or at least, it's being preserved by Sam Wright, an RTC planner who has mapped out the Pioneer's Trail, a journey through Las Vegas' ethnically diverse past.

Tales of the town's first American Indian, Asian, Hispanic, black and white settlers are told along the 6-mile sidewalk trek that starts on Valley View Boulevard near the Big Springs Preserve and Alta Drive, and ends at Old Mormon Fort State Park, near Washington Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard.

"There are so many people I've talked to who have lived here all their lives and they don't know these things about their city," Wright said.

The as-yet unfunded project proposes light-pole banners to guide walkers and stone historic markers telling tales of at least eight sites along the way.

The route heads north on Valley View, east on Washington, south on Tonopah Drive and east on Bonanza Road. At H Street, it meanders north and east in a series of turns through the lettered streets of west Las Vegas before heading south on D Street and back to Bonanza, Las Vegas Boulevard and the Old Mormon Fort.

Walkers will pass Lorenzi Park, the Nevada State Museum and the original Binion ranch house. They'll learn about Moulin Rouge, Las Vegas' first integrated casino, and see old St. James Church.

They'll stroll through the McWilliams Townsite, which was the original center of town until mining magnate and U.S. Sen. William A. Clark convinced his railroad to divert its water to his Las Vegas Ranch.

Wright admits crime and poverty are no strangers to the area encompassing much of the trail beyond the Moulin Rouge. But that comes with historic territory. He recalls growing up in Washington, D.C., and watching as such areas as Georgetown transform from blighted to affluent.

Historic recognition can renew economic promise.

"You look at other cities and their historic homes and buildings. They're all in the poor areas of town," he said. "This is a way to revitalize it."

He stumbled on the historic trek idea a little more than two years ago when he was mapping existing and potential recreational trails for the RTC.

"I noticed this huge area in Las Vegas where there wasn't anything because it was highly urbanized," he said.

So he started walking, driving and reading. Nevada State Museum curator Frank Wright helped him record interviews with some of the city's oldest residents. One of them has has since died, but his stories remain for us on videotape. The tapes will be donated to the state museum for safe-keeping.

He assembled the stories and the route and now is ready for the next step.

"I need some money," Wright said.

He figures $360,000 ought to cover the banners, markers and sidewalk improvements. Another $166,000 would cover maintenance for 10 years.

Granted, $526,000 isn't free. But it's pretty economical when you consider it's the cost of remembering the people and places who cleared our paths and made living here possible.

We pay the price of progress every day in this valley. And we could fare a whole lot worse for our money.