Henderson is a relatively young city. The plant supplied the US War Department with magnesium for munitions and airplane parts. Many of the original townsite homes, built to house plant workers, still exist as residences in the older part of the city. That heritage remains an important part of Henderson's culture. Each year, residents take part in city-sponsored street dances, barbecues, parades and July 4th fireworks and picnics.
Children also pan for real gold in an outdoor recirculating sluice.
Built entirely through donations, the McCaw School of Mines provides a unique opportunity for children to learn how mining affects everyday life. Henderson is often referred to as having small town values and big city efficiencies. An increasing number of major shopping malls, movie theater complexes, restaurants and casino resorts offer residents a variety of choices for leisure time. The Henderson Civic Symphony, Theater in the Valley, Concerts Under the Stars, and Twilight in the Park Concerts, as well as a number of varied touring and local productions, are all part of Henderson's Cultural Events programs. Artfest, a juried fine-arts event premiered in 1998.