Entry No. 36 — the Las Vegas file — filed under: blacksmithing
Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort — Blacksmithing Classes
Behind the adobe walls of the oldest non-native structure in Nevada — an 1855 Mormon mission fort now swallowed by downtown high-rises — the nonprofit Friends of the Fort fires up a coal forge each fall season and teaches small groups genuine blacksmithing 'the old ways,' hammer and anvil, on the actual historic grounds.
The story
Tucked into the corner of Washington Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard sits an earthen adobe structure built in 1855 by Mormon missionaries. It is the oldest non-native building in Nevada, established as a spring-fed stopover along the trail to California long before the strip existed. Today, downtown high-rises loom directly over the fence line, swallowing the historic parcel in modern gridlock, but the original hand-built walls still hold their ground.
Every autumn, the nonprofit group Friends of the Fort fires up a traditional coal forge right on the park grounds. Rather than staring at rusted tools behind rope barriers, you get handed a heavy hammer and a piece of raw steel. Volunteers guide small groups through historic smithing techniques—teaching you how to read heat color, manage a coal fire, and shape metal over an anvil using the exact physical methods required on the 1850s frontier.
It is a strange, grounding sensory break from the rest of Clark County. You stand in flying sparks and coal smoke, pounding out your own iron utility piece while traffic hums along Washington Avenue just past the adobe footprint.
What it's like
Registration drops seasonally on Eventbrite via the Friends of the Fort, and because class sizes are kept small for safety around the coal forge, spots disappear fast. Wear natural fibers—heavy cotton jeans and work shirts—and sturdy, closed-toe boots. Synthetic clothes melt instantly if caught by a stray spark. You will walk away soot-streaked, sore-armed, and holding hot steel you shaped yourself.
The move: Grab two spots in the fall blacksmithing series (registration runs through Eventbrite via Friends of the Fort and sells out fast) and hammer out your own iron piece together at the anvil where 1850s Mormon missionaries once worked metal.
- 📍 Downtown Las Vegas
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 500 E Washington Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- The Neon Museum — Night Tours — Just a third of a mile away, you can transition from 1850s coal forge work to walking among 20th-century retired casino neon after dark.
- Woodlawn Cemetery — Head half a mile northeast to wander the 1914 cemetery where early Las Vegas settlers and notable local figures are buried.
- The Underground at the Mob Museum — Trade coal dust for a post-forge drink in a basement speakeasy running out of a historic downtown courthouse less than a mile south.
Good to know
Do I need prior metalworking experience to take a class?
No. The autumn workshops are structured for curious beginners as well as experienced makers looking to work with a traditional coal forge and anvil.
How do I secure a spot in the blacksmithing workshops?
Classes are run by the nonprofit Friends of the Fort and registered via Eventbrite during the fall season. Check their website early, as space at the anvils sells out quickly.
What should I wear to the forge?
Wear natural fibers such as thick cotton or denim and heavy closed-toe shoes or work boots. Avoid synthetic materials like nylon or polyester, which melt when hit by sparks.
Can I visit the site if I'm not taking a blacksmithing class?
Yes. The site is a Nevada State Historic Park with a visitor center and preserved adobe remnants. Be sure to double-check current open hours before heading over.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: friendsofthefort.org · parks.nv.gov · neon.reviewjournal.com
last checked: 2026-07-20