Just a few miles from the glitz and glamour of downtown Las Vegas, a cultural and historical experience is about to open that will offer fun and education for residents and visitors. The Las Vegas Springs Preserve, commonly referred to as the “birthplace of Las Vegas,” will hold its opening weekend festivities June 8 to 10.

The 180-acre national historic site will offer something for everyone. Gardening enthusiasts will enjoy the eight-acre Gardens at the Springs Preserve. Formerly the Desert Demonstration Gardens, the new garden will feature a wide range of landscaping and examples of native and non-native plant life.

Everyone will enjoy the Visitor Center, which offers a number of galleries, including a children’s gallery, a theater and the 97,000-square-foot ORIGEN Experience, which is comprised of three interactive experiences filled with historical stories of the Las Vegas valley.

The Desert Living Center will offer a lesson in protecting valuable natural resources. The five-building complex will feature interactive galleries, educational opportunities, a design lab and technical training center. The buildings will be the first platinum LEED® buildings in the state of Nevada. This is a rating system used by the U.S. Green Building Council that assesses a building's ability to meet sustainability goals and further conservation.

The Springs Preserve also offers several miles of trails. Along the trails, visitors can see wildlife, artifacts and examples of desert landscaping. In addition, interactive displays along the paths provide a glimpse into the natural environment of the Springs Preserve.

The Springs Preserve will also be home to the Nevada State Museum and Historical Society when it opens in 2008.

The Springs Preserve is located at 333 S. Valley View Blvd. For further information on admission prices, hours, programs and amenities, visit http://www.springspreserve.org/ .