1. Nevada became a state on October 31, 1864, but it wasn't until December 15 of that year that President Abraham Lincoln officially signed Nevada's statehood proclamation. Nevada had been granted statehood in part to bolster Union support during the Civil War.

2. In 1918, on December 15, Nevada ratified the 18th Amendment to the US Constitution, which established Prohibition -- the nationwide ban on alcohol that lasted from 1920 to 1933. However, Prohibition wasn't strictly enforced in Nevada, which became known for its lively speakeasies and bootlegging operations.

3. On December 15, 1929, the Hoover Dam -- an engineering marvel that was then the largest concrete structure in the world -- was officially dedicated by President Herbert Hoover. The dam, which straddles the Nevada-Arizona border, tamed the Colorado River and helped provide much-needed electricity and water to the Southwest.

4. In 1966, on December 15, the Silver State became the first state in the US to offer legal casino gambling to non-residents. The move helped solidify Nevada's reputation as the "Entertainment Capital of the World" and fueled decades of growth in the state's tourism industry.

5. On December 15, 2008, Nevada received an official visit from President-elect Barack Obama, who held a town hall meeting in the state capital of Carson City to discuss his plans for economic recovery. Nevada, like many other states, was hit hard by the Great Recession that began in 2008, and Obama's visit was seen as a sign of his commitment to helping struggling communities.