History of the Park
Valley of Fire State Park began to take shape in 1931 when approximately 8,760 acres of federal land were transferred to the state of Nevada. In 1933, the CCC began developing the park’s infrastructure—constructing roads, trails, campgrounds, and the park’s signature stone cabins. Their work continued into the early 1940s.
The park first opened to the public on Easter Sunday in 1934, nearly a year before its official designation. On March 26, 1935, it was formally established as Boulder Dam–Valley of Fire State Park. Although four state parks were created by concurrent legislation, Valley of Fire is often considered Nevada’s first state park due to its early dedication.
That same year, Thomas W. Miller of Reno, who had led the effort to create a state park system, was appointed as the first chairman of the Nevada Park Commission.
Cultural History of the Valley
Human presence in the Valley of Fire dates back at least 11,000 years. Among the earliest known groups were the Gypsum People (c. 2000 BC to 200 AD), nomadic hunter-gatherers who moved in small bands across southern Nevada. They camped in caves and rock shelters, following the seasonal availability of food.
Their environment resembled the modern desert, and they relied heavily on bighorn sheep, small game, birds, and wild plants. As the climate grew increasingly arid, water sources shrank, vegetation declined, and game became scarcer. In response, the Gypsum People refined their hunting tools and engaged in spiritual rituals to maintain their connection to the animals. Petroglyphs from this time—still visible throughout the park—depict sheep, spears, and atlatls, the throwing tools used to increase the force and range of darts. Despite these efforts, the Gypsum culture eventually disappeared, unable to adapt fully to the changing environment.
The Basketmaker culture (c. 50 BC to 500 AD) emerged as desert conditions persisted. These people adapted by broadening their diet to include smaller animals and wild plant foods. Over time, domesticated crops—corn, beans, and squash—were introduced from the south. This marked a turning point in their lifeways.
The adoption of agriculture required seasonal settlement. While they continued to hunt bighorn sheep, Basketmakers began building pithouses near streamside gardens, signaling a gradual move away from nomadism. They are known for their finely crafted baskets and sandals, which give the culture its name.
This shift laid the foundation for a new cultural identity: the Anasazi (c. 500–1500 AD), a Navajo word meaning “the ancestors.”
With the introduction of the bow and arrow, hunting became more efficient, which—ironically—contributed to a decline in bighorn populations. Despite early periods of higher rainfall, overhunting and environmental stress forced further adaptation.
The Anasazi built pueblos—clusters of homes and granaries arranged around open plazas. They established semi-sedentary villages along rivers such as the Muddy and Virgin, where they cultivated irrigated gardens. The Valley of Fire remained a seasonal destination. In spring and fall, Anasazi groups returned to hunt and gather; in summer, they moved to the nearby mountains for cooler temperatures and additional food sources.
When the Southern Paiutes arrived in southern Nevada, the Anasazi were still present. As nomadic foragers, the Paiutes were better equipped to handle environmental changes. During droughts, they could move to more favorable areas and return when conditions improved. As dry periods intensified, the Anasazi moved east and south. The Paiutes, however, remained and adapted. They are the modern Indigenous people of southern Nevada.
The Southern Paiutes call themselves Nuwuvi, meaning “The People.” They moved seasonally across a vast territory of mountains, valleys, rivers, and springs, relying on an intimate knowledge of the land to harvest wild grains, roots, and migratory animals at the right times and places.
For centuries, the deserts of Nevada were avoided by outsiders—Spanish, Mexican, and Euro-American alike—due to the harsh conditions. As travel routes generally followed water sources, the Valley of Fire remained isolated and unknown.
Beginning around 1700, Nuwuvi camps were increasingly raided by Spanish soldiers, Mexican parties, and other Indigenous groups, often armed and mounted. Over time, the Paiutes learned to avoid contact with outsiders. By the time American explorers entered the region in the 1840s, the Nuwuvi had become so withdrawn that newcomers mistakenly assumed the land was uninhabited—an impression that encouraged settlement and land claims.
In the 1850s, Mormon settlers established farms and communities along the Muddy and Virgin Rivers. Their livestock and agricultural expansion disrupted traditional Paiute hunting and gathering grounds. However, many Paiutes found employment with Mormon farmers and incorporated new foods and materials into their diet. Over time, the Valley of Fire became less essential to their seasonal lifeways.
A few settlers ventured into the area to hunt bighorn sheep or to view the “Indian writings” carved into the rocks. However, the region remained largely unknown and inaccessible, with only the Paiutes able to navigate its difficult canyons and locate its hidden water tanks.
The early 20th century brought significant changes in transportation. The railroad and later a federal highway system redirected traffic away from the wagon roads of the 19th century. For a brief period, a regional road passed through what would become the park, but by 1925, the Valley of Fire had returned to a state of solitude.
Ironically, it was archaeology, not tourism or transportation, that renewed interest in the region. In the 1920s, Nevada Governor James G. Scrugham believed that visitors would be drawn to the Anasazi ruins along the lower Muddy River. He attempted to establish a state recreation area, but the construction of Boulder (Hoover) Dam delayed the effort. Interest resurfaced a decade later. The combination of archaeological significance and the Valley’s dramatic red sandstone formations, adorned with ancient petroglyphs, helped lead to its designation as Nevada’s first state park in 1935.
