Raphael Rivera was a Spanish

Spanish people

The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....

/Mexican

Mexican people

Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....

 scout and the first non-Native American

Native Americans in the United States

Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...

 to set foot in the Las Vegas Valley. Trader Antonio Armijo

Antonio Armijo

Antonio Armijo was a Spanish Mexican explorer and merchant who was famous for leading the first commercial caravan party across the Las Vegas Valley in 1829. His route is known as the Old Spanish Trail...

 led a 60-man party along the Spanish Trail

Old Spanish Trail (trade route)

The Old Spanish Trail is a historical trade route which connected the northern New Mexico settlements near or in Santa Fe, New Mexico with that of Los Angeles, California and southern California. Approximately long, it ran through areas of high mountains, arid deserts, and deep canyons. It is...

 to Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...

 in 1829. While his caravan was camped Christmas Day about 100 miles northeast of present day Las Vegas, a scouting party rode west in search for water. The inexperienced Rivera left the main party and ventured into unexplored area. Within two weeks, he discovered the Las Vegas Springs

Las Vegas Springs

The Las Vegas Springs or Big Springs is the site of a natural oasis, known traditionally as a cienega. For more than 15,000 years, springs broke through the desert floor, creating grassy meadows . The bubbling springs were a source of water for Native Americans living here at least 5,000 years ago...

. The abundant artesian spring water discovered at Las Vegas shortened the Spanish Trail to Los Angeles. About 14 years later after Rivera's discovery, John C. Frémont

John C. Frémont

John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...

 led an expedition west and camped at Las Vegas Springs

Las Vegas Springs

The Las Vegas Springs or Big Springs is the site of a natural oasis, known traditionally as a cienega. For more than 15,000 years, springs broke through the desert floor, creating grassy meadows . The bubbling springs were a source of water for Native Americans living here at least 5,000 years ago...

 on May 13, 1844.

The Rafael Rivera Park Community Center and Raphael Rivera, a street, are named after him. He is also commemorated by Nevada Historical Marker 214

Nevada Historical Markers

Nevada Historical Markers identify significant places of interest in Nevada's history. The Historic Marker Program was initiated by the Nevada State Legislature in 1967 to bring the state's heritage to the public's attention with on-site markers...

.