Category: Downtown

Downtown Las Vegas, also know as Glittergulch, the areas around downtown include East Fremont, Symphony Park, and the Arts District.

On this Date: February 14, 2012, The Mob Museum Opened in Downtown Las Vegas

February 14, 2019
mob museum

The Mob Museum right before is grand opening in 2012

On February 14, 2012, The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, or “Mob “Museum located in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada opened. The opening date of February 14th, coincides with the historical deadly Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1929. It was the murder of seven mob associates as part of a Prohibition-era conflict between two powerful criminal gangs in Chicago: the South Side Italian gang led by Al Capone and the North Side Irish gang led by Bugs Moran.Former members of the Egan’s Rats gang were also suspected of having played a significant role in the incident, assisting Capone.

The Museum is housed in the former Las Vegas Post Office and Courthouse, built in 1933 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum is on Stewart Avenue, two blocks north of Fremont Street, the main artery of the downtown casino district. The Mob Museum is dedicated to the thrilling story of organized crime and law enforcement. It presents an exciting and authentic view of the mob’s impact on Las Vegas history and its unique imprint on the world.

The museum is located at the end of 3rd street at 300 Stewart Avenue near the newly opened “Mob Bar”,  just north of the Fremont Street Experience.  The expected opening is  in February of 2012.

Photo By: LasVegas360.com
Date Taken: December 30, 2011

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On This Date: February 6, 2006. Lady Luck Casino in Downtown Las Vegas Closed

February 6, 2019
lady-luck-casino

Lady Luck Hotel Casino – September 2007

The Lady Luck opened in 1964 as Honest Johns. The property is located one street north of the famous “Fremont Street” on Ogden Ave. It was originally a small newsstand/smoke-shop with 20 slot machines and a few pinball machines. This was the Honest John’s located downtown and not the other one located on Las Vegas Blvd. and Sahara Ave. But, in 1968 it was renamed Lady Luck. In 1972, it expanded from its small beginnings to engulf the whole block as a full-fledged casino with restaurants and shops.

honest-john-downtown

Honest John’s Before the Lady Luck

The first hotel tower opened in 1986 and the second tower was added in 1989. Lady Luck had more than 30,000 square feet of gaming space, more than 800 slot and video poker machines and 30 table games, 792 hotel guestrooms, four restaurants and a multi-level parking garage. On February 6, 2006 the Lady was closed. 7 years later, on October 27, 2013, the hotel and casino reopened as the Downtown Grand.

Photo By: Wikipedia.com

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On This Date: September 1, 2011 the Plaza Re-opened in Downtown Las Vegas

September 1, 2018
Plaza in Downtown Las Vegas

Plaza in Downtown Las Vegas

On this Date, September 1, 2011 the Plaza re-opened.

The original hotel, the Union Plaza, opened on July 2, 1971 with the owners including local businessmen: Sam Boyd, Frank Scott, Howard Cannon and Jackie Gaughan. Its original name was Union Plaza, in reference to the Union Pacific railroad station that originally stood at the site. But the hotel portion closed on November 11, 2010.

Plaza in Downtown Las Vegas

Plaza in Downtown Las Vegas – Sunrise

The hotel is famous In the 1971 James Bond film, Diamonds Are Forever, the construction of the Union Plaza is visible in the background. In the 1989 film Back to the Future Part II, a model of the Plaza serves as the hotel tower.

The Union plaza closed on November 11, 2010 and re-opened about a year later on September 1, 2011 as the Plaza.

Photos by: LasVegas360.com

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On This Date: August 30, 1946 The Golden Nugget Opened

August 30, 2018
Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Downtown Las Vegas

Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Downtown Las Vegas

On August 30, 1946 the Golden Nugget opened, making it one of the oldest hotels in Las Vegas. The Golden Nugget is located in the orginal downtown area of Las Vegas on Fremont Street. The area is  also known as Glitter Gulch as apposed to the famous Las Vegas Blvd, aka the “Strip”. The Golden Nugget is the largest casino in the downtown area, with a total of 2,345 deluxe guest rooms and suites.

Displayed in the Golden Nugget lobby, is the world’s largest gold nugget, the Hand of Faith. It weighs in at 875 troy ounces. The gold alone is worth $1.2 million at todays prices ($1400 per oz.)

The Golden Nugget has had many famous owners, including: Jackie Gaughan, Steve Wynn and Kirk Kerkorian. Landry’s Restaurants are the current owners and operators of the Golden Nugget today.

Photo By: LasVegas360.com

 

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On this Date: June 4, 1975 The Golden Goose Opened in Downtown Las Vegas

June 4, 2018
Golden Goose Downtown Las Vegas

The Golden Goose  circa 1999

On this date, June 4 1975, the Golden Goose opened at 20 Fremont Street, downtown Las Vegas. Although the Golden Goose was mostly a slot house for most of its 5 years of operation. They later closed in 1980.

Update 5/4/2018, The Golden Goose sign was removed, and the buildings Demolished 2017

Photo by: LasVegas360.com

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On this Date: June 2, 1966 The Four Queens Hotel & Casino Opened in Downtown Las Vegas

June 2, 2018
4 Queens in downtown Las Vegas

4 Queens in Downtown Las Vegas

Construction began on the Four Queens Hotel and Casino November 16, 1964. The hotel & casino opened on June 2, 1966 in Downtown Las Vegas on Fremont Street. The casino is named after the builder Ben Goffstein’s four daughters, Faith, Hope, Benita, and Michele. It originally contained only 120 rooms and a 20,000 sq. ft. casino.

Today the casino occupies the entire block bordered by Fremont St, Casino Center, Third Street, and Carson Avenue. The hotel has 690 rooms and a expanded casino of 50,000 sq. ft. The Four Queens was also a partner in renovating the downtown area and creating the Fremont Street experience.

The Four Queens is currently by TLC Casino Enterprises, Inc.

Photo by: LasVegas360.com

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