#17: The Vegas Strip, 1955

It’s hard to believe now, but Las Vegas, Nevada, was once a barren desert with a very small population. This 1955 photograph shows a “For Sale” sign stuck in the middle of the desert without a person or car in sight. The abandoned and deteriorating piece of scrap metal by the sign isn’t exactly encouraging, either. 

Believe it or not, the site of this “For Sale” sign would soon transform into one of the busiest urban strips in the country. The completion of the Hoover Dam and the U.S. interstate highway system contributed to the growth of Las Vegas. Whoever bought this parcel of land for a whopping $3 million probably went on to make a pretty penny.