Evolution Of Las Vegas

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Evolution of Las Vegas is hard to follow. Only few fragments of the original casinos survive today. Las Vegas went thru six architectural eras so far. First there was pre-strip of the 1930s. At the beginning of 1930s few billboards and gas station lined the asphalt road. Apart from a few small casinos, downtown’s Fremont Street was indistinguishable ordinary main street somewhere in Midwest. The second period was the birth of the strip. I am referring to strip as an internationally known area for its concentration of casinos and hotel resorts along its main route. Second era began in 1939, when first casinos appeared. Although gambling became legal at 1931. Nevada legalized most forms of gambling while the construction of Hoover Dam was ongoing. …show more content…

These places were designed in extravagant and modern style. Vegas met the national success in tourism with promotional campaigns. The fourth period began in 1958 with Stardust. By using the sign and hotel logo as huge part of its design. This established an unconventional but very effective response to the strip site. The style spread and Fremont Street signs were growing in size and amount of lights. Some of the casinos created whole facades of glowing strips of neon. The opening of Caesars Palace marked the fifth era. The era of themed style started in 1966, where numerous strip resorts stick to its own world based on historical period or exotic location. Around 1980 Las Vegas entered the sixth, which is also current era, Influence of by large number of hotel corporations. The recreational strip became a competition of various resorts. The 10$ million Riviera built in 1955 was the strips first higher rise building. Nine stories building including up to 300 rooms was a departure from the strips motel format. There were doubts that the Mojavi desert wouldn’t be able to support building this tall. But earnings of Riviera were equal to Miami

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