1. On December 9, 1916, the town of Sparks experienced a devastating fire that destroyed many of its buildings. The fire started in a hotel and quickly spread due to strong winds, resulting in the loss of over 25 businesses and hundreds of homes.

2. On December 9, 1930, the Hoover Dam began producing hydroelectric power. The dam, located on the Arizona-Nevada border, generates electricity for over 1.3 million people in the surrounding areas.

3. December 9, 1949 marked the opening of the first shopping mall in the United States, the Nevada Shopping Center, located in Reno. The mall featured over 40 stores and was a popular destination for holiday shoppers.

4. In 1977, the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas caught fire, resulting in the deaths of 85 people and over 700 injuries. The fire remains one of the deadliest hotel fires in U.S. history and led to significant changes in hotel safety regulations.

5. On December 9, 2018, the Las Vegas Raiders played their first home game at the newly built Allegiant Stadium. The NFL team had just moved to Las Vegas from Oakland and the stadium was one of the most expensive and technologically advanced in the league.