These people were fishermen, hunters, food gatherers and they settled along the Great Basin. The Great Basin is a region known for its famous lakes and large game. Not till the late 18th century is where we first hear about the first white explorers entering the state. The first person to enter the State is said to be Francisco Garces, who was a spanish priest. With him, came his religious beliefs of Catholicism. He built missions in the area around the Mojave Desert (where Las Vegas is eventually founded), but they failed. The reason was that the soldiers were given the power of the administration and not the friars. This lead to soldiers abusing the Native Americans and eventual clash. Soon after, Mormons from Utah settled in Nevada and tried to spread their religion, but that too failed. Settlers from the East continued to pour into Nevada and the other Western states in the mid-19th century. The discovery of silvery in Nevada, made it become a hot spot for mining. To help jumpstart Nevada's economy, people were encouraged to mine by incresing the value of silver. California had its Gold Rush, but Nevada had its Silver Rush!
A statue of Father Francisco Garces
Mining for silver in the early years of the states history
Source: http://www.city-data.com/states/Nevada-History.html
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