Visitors will also be able to take in art displays and themed cocktail parties
In 2015, the newly formed Nevada Preservation Foundation kicked off its inaugural Vintage Vegas Home Tour, offering visitors the chance to step inside retro Las Vegas residences.
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Ten years later, the annual tour is still going strong, peppered with lore about the mobsters, musicians and moguls who long ago got in on the ground floor as Sin City began to take shape. Fans of history and architecture are in for a real treat this spring when the Home + History Las Vegas festival once again celebrates all things vintage Vegas.
From its Colonial, Tudor and Spanish revival houses to minimal, traditional and contemporary mid-century ranchers, Las Vegas’s architecture is as diverse and storied as the neon-soaked gambling mecca itself.
And what a colourful history to explore.
“Las Vegas is truly the stuff of legend,” says Amy Raymer, board president and programming chair for the Nevada Preservation Foundation. “I think one of the appeals of ‘old Las Vegas’ is the connection to the celebrity and glamour of the post-World War Two era that made Las Vegas a place where people come to enjoy entertainment, gambling and the spectacle of this modern city.”
Clearly, the public has an appetite for the four-day festival as organizers have seen a steady increase in ticket sales and attendance each year, Raymer says. And it’s the federation’s largest annual fundraising event.
This year, the Home + History Las Vegas festival will be happening from May 1 to 4 with the theme Vegas Now. Vegas Then. Walking and bus tours touch down in areas like the city’s oldest community, downtown’s John S. Park Historic District, and the nearby 18b/Arts District, where revitalized 1930s to ‘50s commercial buildings feature vibrant murals by local artists. Mid-century modern home design will be on public display in the master-planned neighbourhood of Paradise Palms, a time capsule of 1960s decor.
Events include roundtable discussions with area preservation leaders who support the federation’s mandate to care for and revitalize Nevada’s historic buildings through education and advocacy. Renowned modern architecture expert and author Alan Hess will join the festival to offer his take on the importance of that mission.
“Las Vegas has significant innovative architecture,” Hess says. “Not only the hotels and casinos, but at one time, it was one of the fastest growing cities in North America.”
Notable structures range from schools and churches to commercial buildings and master-planned communities, says Hess, who is based in Orange County, Calif. “We should recognize it and preserve it.”
There’s plenty of fun to be had too. Social events like tiki- and vintage-themed cocktail parties are regular occurrences throughout the festival, with the Vintage Vegas Home Tour wrapping up the final day.
“The Home + History Las Vegas festival allows guests to explore beyond the neon into the origins of this incredible place,” Raymer says. “These events allow locals and visitors alike to touch the past and understand how Las Vegas continues as a magical place, unlike anywhere else in the world.”
Stay in style
Sleep in retro style at the El Cortez Hotel and Casino on Fremont Street. The hotel’s one-of-a-kind, ‘80s-style penthouse was once the residence of former El Cortez owner Jackie Gaughan and his wife. A hot spot for wedding parties, it’s a well-preserved memory box of luxe decor, including a pink marble ensuite replete with gold swan fittings.
For a contemporary and casino-less setting, The English Hotel is well positioned in the Las Vegas Arts District. A creativity-infused and modern low-rise structure and adults-only hotel, it’s been attracting the brunch set with bottomless mimosas and a celebrity chef menu at The Pepper Club.
