<P> Following World War II, lavishly decorated hotels, gambling casinos, and big - name entertainment became synonymous with Las Vegas . </P> <P> In the 1950s the Moulin Rouge opened and became the first racially integrated casino - hotel in Las Vegas . </P> <P> In 1951, nuclear weapons testing began at the Nevada Test Site, 65 miles (105 km) northwest of Las Vegas . City residents and visitors were able to witness the mushroom clouds (and were exposed to the fallout) until 1963, when the limited Test Ban Treaty required that nuclear tests be moved underground . </P> <P> The iconic "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign, which was never located in the city, was created in 1959 by Betty Willis . </P>

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