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Rafael Rivera

Rafael Rivera

Rafael Rivera Overview

In 1830, pioneer scout, Rafael Rivera, was the first known European American to traverse the Las Vegas Valley.

He connected the Las Vegas Springs with the Old Spanish Trail.

He ascended the Vegas wash twenty miles east of this marker.

John C. Frémont mapped the trail in 1844 which later became known as the Mormon Trail.

Category

  • Mormon Trail
  • Old Spanish Trail
  • Person

Marker Type

Blue marker

Nevada Historical Marker Number

Rafael Rivera is Nevada Historical Marker #214.

Click here to view the full list of Nevada State Historical Markers.

County

Clark County, Nevada

GPS Coordinates

36.083550, -115.072753

Nevada Historical Marker Transcription

This historical marker commemorates the valor and service of pioneer scout Rafael Rivera, the first European American of record to view and traverse Las Vegas Valley, who scouted for Antonio Armijo’s sixty-man trading party from Abiquiu, New Mexico. In January 1830, young Rivera ascended Vegas wash twenty miles east of this marker and blazed a route to the Mojave River in California by way of the Armargosa River.

Rivera’s pioneering route became a vital link in the Old Spanish Trail, with Las Vegas Springs an essential stop on this popular route to Southern California. John C. Frémont mapped the trail in 1844. Three years later, following an extension of the course to Salt Lake Valley, the route became known in this area as the Mormon Trail.  Today the Old Spanish Trail closely parallels Interstate route #15.

STATE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION MARKER No. 214

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE

ERECTED BY RAFAEL RIVERA MONUMENT COMMITTEE AND PATRIOTIC CITIZENS

References Used

Rafael Rivera