Rafael Rivera was a New Mexican scout who took part in Antonio Armijo's Spanish Trail expedition from Nuevo México in 1829.[1][2][3][4][5] Armijo led a trader caravan group to Los Angeles, California on Christmas Day about 100 miles northeast of present-day Las Vegas a scouting party rode west in search for water. The inexperienced Rivera left the main party and ventured into unexplored area. Within two weeks, he discovered the Las Vegas Springs. The abundant artesian spring water discovered at Las Vegas shortened the Spanish Trail to Los Angeles. About 14 years later after Rivera's discovery, John C. Frémont led an expedition west and camped at Las Vegas Springs on May 13, 1844.
Raphael Rivera | |
|---|---|
 Equestrian statue of Rafael Rivera in Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| Occupation | Scout |
The Rafael Rivera Park (a community center) and Rafael Rivera Way (a frontage road of Clark County Route 215) are named after him. He is also commemorated by Nevada Historical Marker No. 214.[6]
References
edit- ↑ Lake, Richard (December 17, 2008). "Road Warrior Q&A: Foliage removed for widening". Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
- ↑ "Las Vegas, how did Las Vegas get its name, groundwater depletion, Victor Miguel Ponce". Archived from the original on October 22, 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
- ↑ Pearson, Mark (December 27, 2021). "History of Las Vegas". VegasSlotsOnline.com.
- ↑ Barbara Land, Myrick Land, "A Short History of Las Vegas", University of Nevada Press, 2004, p. 4.
- ↑ "Clark County, NV – FAQs/History". Retrieved December 4, 2008.
- ↑ "Rafael Rivera". Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Retrieved April 4, 2026.