These Sin City photos prove that Las Vegas is not just a city — it’s a symbol. It’s one of the few places in the United States where debauchery, reckless spending, and immoral acts are acceptable. It seemingly sprang from nowhere in the Nevada desert like an oasis of luxury. Legends of 20th-century America like Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Wayne Newton treated Vegas as a second home. Mob dealings from the likes of Bugsy Siegel and Lefty Rosenthal became national sensations. And the Atomic Age’s epicenter was in the desert just outside Las Vegas. Here are some of the images that helped make Las Vegas the iconic place it is today.

This photograph of Fremont Street, taken circa 1900, shows what Las Vegas used to be — a frontier town. It’s hard to believe that this sleepy town became home to the bustling Strip and downtown areas, each saturated in neon, that we all recognize today. Nevada had just been a state for 35 years, and wouldn’t legalize gambling for another 30.

At the Desert Inn Casino in 1953, women try out the slot machines. Las Vegas had officially taken off by then, with Prohibition and the Great Depression already relics of the past. The United States was the richest country on Earth, and what better way to spend that wealth than by gambling it away?

Actress Linda Lawson has been immortalized as “Miss Cue,” a reference to nuclear testing done under the name “Operation Cue.” Her crown features a mushroom cloud, a celebration of the unbridled destruction that America was now capable of. In 1955, Vegas was in the midst of atomic fever.

In 1964, the Sahara Hotel caught fire in what turned out to be one of the worst hotel fires in Vegas history. Around $1 million in damage had been caused by the fire before it was put out. The fire was most likely caused by welders on the roof. A stray spark quickly grew into a blaze, but the Sahara soon reopened.

Lefty may have had some enemies, but through mob connections he got an executive position at the Stardust Resort and Casino. In reality, he was running four different casinos and making a ton of cash. He introduced sports betting to Vegas as well as female blackjack dealers, which doubled the Stardust’s profits almost immediately.

As two of the core members of the Rat Pack, Frankie and Sammy were great friends. And in a world where black performers were rare, Frank helped Sammy in show business. When Sammy was in a car crash in 1954 and had to get a glass eye, Frank paid his medical bills and let him recuperate at his home.

Many things gave Las Vegas its reputation for sex appeal — Vegas showgirls, especially. Emulating the Parisian dancers from the Moulin Rouge, these girls brought in crowds at the biggest clubs in town. In 1957, the Desert Inn started showing topless showgirls, which forever changed the face of Vegas shows.

Most people can’t think of Elvis without thinking of Vegas, and vice versa. The King was known for his love of the city, and he played there countless times, especially in his later career. Now, anyone walking down the Strip will encounter more Elvis impersonators than they may care to see. Here he is, with his co-star, Ann-Margret, on the set of Viva Las Vegas.

Legendary boxer Muhammad Ali always drew big crowds whenever he fought in Las Vegas. He took to training at the Stardust Resort and Casino instead of a blacks-only facility, helping to desegregate the city in the process. This intimate photo shows Ali training before a Vegas fight. He didn’t call himself the greatest for nothing.

The Circus Circus Hotel & Resort sets itself apart by having a giant tent above its slot machines, like a super-sized circus. Circus acts, like trapeze artists, perform above gamblers each day. Perhaps the casino runners were trying to distract guests from all the money they were spending, though some of them probably never bothered to look up.

As if gambling wasn't enough, tourists came from all over the country to witness a real-life atom bomb explode. The test site was far from Vegas, but judging by photos of explosions seen from casinos, it wasn't far enough. Anything atomic-related became trendy; visitors could even try the “Atomic Cocktail,” which must have been very strong to earn the name.

Who would have guessed that cowboys enjoyed a spin on the roulette wheel? In this photo from 1935, Las Vegas residents celebrate the anniversary of the building of the Union Pacific Railroad. Nostalgia for the Old West was only beginning, as Las Vegas veered further and further from its roots as a trading post in the desert.

People weren’t the only ones who gambled. Tanya the elephant became a celebrity sensation in the 60s. She frequently performed for guests at casinos, and even on talk shows like The Merv Griffin Show. She even made a cameo in Diamonds Are Forever, which may be one of the oddest scenes in a James Bond film.

Of all the places to gamble, a swimming pool is the least practical. It must have looked cool at the time, the way a swimming pool bar does now, but a craps table is less waterproof. Did anyone installing this table ask themselves if it would get wet?

Not much is known about this woman, except that she managed to make the atom bomb sexy. Her name was Lee A. Merlin, and she was a showgirl who became the last “Miss Atomic Bomb” in 1957. Her cotton mushroom cloud, glued to the front of her bikini, became a sex symbol of the Atomic Age. And Las Vegas was at the center of it all.

FedEx founder Frederick Smith faced a tough decision in 1973: go bankrupt due to rising fuel costs or go to Vegas. Smith sank all of his personal fortune into the young company, which only had $5,000 left in the bank. He used it all to play blackjack and managed to win, walking out with $27,000, enough to run the company for another week. It has been running ever since.

Billionaire recluse Howard Hughes lived at the Desert Inn for a couple of years in the late 1960s. He suffered from increasingly severe OCD. One of his many eccentricities was his love of Baskin Robbins' banana nut ice cream. He ordered a shipment to the hotel, but Baskin Robbins had recently ceased production. So Hughes ordered them to send him a bulk shipment, which they did. The Desert Inn ended up with 350 gallons of the stuff. Hughes tired of the flavor, so the hotel gave it out to guests for a year.

Famed playwright Noël Coward looks at home in the Nevada desert, with his signature cigarette holder and smart fashion sense. This was in 1955, when Coward made his first appearance in America to perform his music. He’s not the first person you’d guess to perform in Las Vegas, but at least he knew how to dress for the part.

As shown in this atomic testing photo from 1953, entire buildings were constructed just to see how an atom bomb would blow them up. Just outside Las Vegas, “Doom Town” was a mock town with a population of 70 dummies. After it was tested on numerous times, nothing at all remained. Another test town, “Survival Town,” still stands (barely).

In 1961, with Frank Sinatra on hand, Sammy Davis Jr. performed for Dean Martin’s birthday in Vegas. That same year, Sammy converted to Judaism after years of study. He said that he identified with Jewish people because they had been persecuted for thousands of years. He found their sense of community and determination inspiring.

The Hidden Well Dude Ranch may seem like a hokey place, but many celebrities stayed there to experience life in the West, including, but not limited to: Alfred Hitchcock, Benny Goodman, Rosalind Russell, and William Powell. Although it’s no longer open for business, Hidden Well Road — near McCarran International Airport —  commemorates its existence.

Believe it or not, cowboys still existed in 1948. These two, from nearby ranches, decided to play the slot machines. They may not be cowboys from the Old West, and they probably didn’t have gun holsters or six-shooters, but the hats do much to help their look.

This couple seems to be taking a break from gambling at the El Rancho. The El Rancho Vegas was the first resort on the Las Vegas Strip, opening in April of 1941. This was a time before the big casinos and bright lights populated the Strip.

In this dramatic photo, Leotis Martin has just knocked out Sonny Liston in the fight for the North American Heavyweight Championship. Despite lying there frozen, face down in the ring, Liston would live to fight another day. Martin, however, suffered a detached retina that night, ending his career permanently.

This photo of the Sinatras proves that talent runs deep in the family. There’s Frank, Nancy, Frank’s ex-wife (Nancy Barbato), and Frank Jr. celebrating Frank Jr.’s opening night at Caesar’s Palace. Frank Jr. was kicking off his own solo career with a little help from his dad. Nancy Sinatra had her own hit with 1966’s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin.’”

Eddie Fisher and Connie Stevens were an unbeatable husband and wife duo; they both had shows in Las Vegas, simultaneously, in 1969. Before Fisher married Stevens, he was married to Elizabeth Taylor, and before that to Debbie Reynolds. One of his children with Debbie was named Carrie, whom you may know better as Princess Leia.

Before O. J. was made famous for trying on gloves and writing memoirs like If I Did It, he was a beloved football star. In this photo, he teaches actress Ann-Margret how to throw a football at the Riviera Hotel, just before hitting the slot machines downstairs.

In this photo of legendary performers, Elvis and his wife, Priscilla, pose with Welsh singer Tom Jones. In 1968, Elvis was enjoying a comeback in his career, while Jones was a sensation in Britain. At the time, Jones was performing at the Flamingo Hotel. Elvis reportedly enjoyed the show and cheered for Tom.

This mugshot of Doors singer Jim Morrison didn't mark the only time the rock legend was arrested. Morrison was outside a casino on the Strip with a friend when he decided to smoke a cigarette like it was a joint, which angered a security guard. Morrison was evidently not a fan of the law, and  he taunted the guard before getting a billy club to the head.

One-of-a-kind daredevil Evel Knievel planned to jump over the fountain at Caesar’s Palace in 1967. It was the jump that made him famous — and he failed. His Triumph motorcycle decelerated unexpectedly on his ascent and he ended up landing on the safety ramp, crashing and tumbling onto the pavement. He was in a coma for a month with several broken bones, but he survived.

In 1967, Elvis finally married his longtime girlfriend, Priscilla, who was only 21 at the time. They met in 1959, in Germany, while Elvis was in the Army. Priscilla was only 14 when they met, and Elvis was 25, but it must have been love at first sight.

After Debbie’s film career had run its course, with classics like Singin’ in the Rain, she tried to open her very own casino. She bought the Clarion Hotel and Casino in 1992, and soon reopened it as the Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Hotel. Unfortunately she couldn’t keep it afloat and she went bankrupt in 1997.

Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin were famous friends and both part of the Rat Pack. Years later, even as times changed, they were still revered. In 1979, Frank was honored with the Pied Piper Award from ASCAP to celebrate 40 years of his singing and acting. That night was also his 64th birthday.