1. Nevada became the 36th state in the United States on October 31, 1864. However, on December 10 of the same year, President Abraham Lincoln signed the proclamation officially declaring Nevada's statehood.

2. On December 10, 1879, Nevada Governor John Tyler Jones signed the "Chinese Exclusion Act," which prohibited Chinese people from becoming naturalized citizens and limited their immigration to the United States. The law remained in effect until the 1940s.

3. In 1920, construction began on the Hoover Dam, a massive structure on the Colorado River that would provide hydroelectric power and water to Nevada, Arizona, and California. On December 10, 1928, the first concrete was poured for the dam, beginning the years-long process of building one of the largest dams in the world.

4. On December 10, 1948, the National Finals Rodeo was held for the first time in Las Vegas. The rodeo, which showcases top cowboys and cowgirls from around the world, has been held in Vegas every year since, becoming one of the city's most popular annual events.

5. In 1993, on December 10, the Mirage Hotel and Casino opened in Las Vegas, ushering in a new era of extravagant themed resorts on the famous Vegas Strip. The Mirage, which includes a massive indoor rainforest and a volcano that erupts nightly, set a new standard for luxury and spectacle in Las Vegas.