Cruising down Las Vegas Blvd. “The Strip” in a TT (video)

July 7, 2017
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Cruising down Las Vegas Blvd. “The Strip” – Welcome To Las Vegas Sign

Take a cruise down the famous Las Vegas Blvd. also know as “The Strip.” The Strip begins before the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign, all the way down to just before the Stratosphere.

Here is an interesting fact, “The Strip” refers to the stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard that is roughly between Sahara Avenue and Russell Road, with a distance of 4.2 miles, and is technically not in the city of Las Vegas, but in the county of Clark along with most of the hotels & resorts. In 1959 the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign was constructed exactly 4.5 miles outside of the city limits. The sign is today about 0.4 miles south of the southernmost entrance to Mandalay Bay (the southernmost casino).

The video was shot on a GoPro and mounted on an Audi TT.
Video by LasVegas360.com on May 30, 2016

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On This Date: July 3, 1930 Appropriation Bill for the Boulder Dam Was Signed

July 3, 2017
hoover dam

Hoover Dam on the Nevada – Arizona Border Built Starting in 1931

On July 3, 1930, President Herbert Hoover signed the appropriation bill for the Boulder Dam.  Work started on the dam in 1931 and Las Vegas’ population swelled from around 5,000 citizens to 25,000, with most of the newcomers looking for a job building the dam. The casinos and showgirl theaters first appeared in Las Vegas to entertain the largely male-majority dam construction workers. The name of the dam was later changed from Boulder Dam to Hoover Dam.

Photo By: LasVegas360.com
Date Taken: November 26, 2011

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On This Date: July 2, 1969 The International Hotel in Las Vegas Opened

July 2, 2017
Las Vegas Hilton

Opened as the International, then renamed to the Las Vegas Hilton, LVH then Westgate

It opened in 1969 as the International Hotel, and was known for many years as the Las Vegas Hilton, then briefly as the LVH – Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. It was renamed the Westgate Las Vegas on July 1, 2014. Elvis Presley performed for 58 consecutive sold out shows, breaking all Vegas attendance records, with stellar reviews coming from both critics and the public.

On the night of February 10, 1981, just 90 days after the devastating MGM Grand fire, an arson set fire to the Las Vegas Hilton on the eighth floor. The fire burned through the east wing of the hotel and spread to higher floors. Eight people died in this fire. In 1982, Philip Cline was sentenced to eight life sentences for his role in starting the fire. The hotel is now known as the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino.

Photo By: Wikipedia.com

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On This Date: July 2, 1971 The Union Plaza in Downtown Las Vegas Opened

The Plaza, originally named the Union Plaza (Photo by: LasVegas360.com)

Photo by: LasVegas360.com

 

The “Union” was removed in 2011 (Photo by: LasVegas360.com)

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.

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 hotel portion closed on November 11, 2010. The hotel re-opened September 1, 2011 as the Plaza.

Re-modeled rooms of the Plaza in 2011

Re-modeled rooms of the Plaza in 2011

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On This Date: July 2, 1958 The Stardust Hotel & Casino Opened

Stardust

The Famous Stardust Hotel & Casino Sign

On this Date, July 2, 1958, The Stardust Resort and Casino opened along the famous Las Vegas Strip. When the hotel opened, it had the largest casino and swimming pool in Nevada and the it was the largest hotel in the Las Vegas area. Although most of the modern casino complex, including its main 32-story tower, was built in 1991. The Stardust was originally a outer space themed hotel with planets, stars and galaxies on its facade.

Stardust Postcard

Stardust Postcard With the Orginal Spaced Themed Facade

But most remember the 188 foot tall neon sign that represented a shower of stardust around the words STARDUST. In 1991, the Stardust sign’s spaced themed lettering was replaced with a subdued typeface.

The Stardust officially closed on November 1, 2006 after operating continuously for 48 years. It was imploded on March 13, 2006

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