Though the city of Las Vegas was founded in 1905, it really came on the map only in 1931, when Nevada legalised
baccarat online. It was this event that catapulted the dusty town off the beaten track to becoming Sin City, the gambling hot spot of the world.
Today,
https://www.casinous.com/ has pervaded every enterprise. Vegas movies are legendary from Viva Las Vegas to Casino to The Hangover. James Bond was there in Diamonds Are Forever. Old school Vegas slots have been immortalised online. Vegas t-shirts, trinkets and other merchandise can be found in every tourist location in the world.
The most pervasive images of Las Vegas are from The Strip. Garishly lit-up hotels with exotic architectural features tower on both sides of one of the most famous streets of the world. These are, however, commonplace. Without going too far back we have picked some iconic photos of Las Vegas from the last 50 years. These showcase a different aspect of Vegas and have their own story to tell.
#1 Stratosphere Tower
Where in Vegas
The Stratosphere Casino Hotel & Tower is located at one end of the Strip, close to the Sahara Exit. It is ideal for visitors that want to spend time both on the Strip and in Downtown Vegas. The hotel adds a unique architectural feature to the Vegas skyline, the Stratosphere Tower. At an imposing height of 1,149 feet it is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States.
The Story
Bob Stupak conceived of the tower in 1989. The original design was revised to include an observation deck close to the top. The construction of the tower was riddled with problems, but finally completed in 1996. Stupak’s dream came to fruition when Las Vegas Review Journal voted the Stratosphere Tower as the best place to view the city.
We have selected this photo because it gives a unique inverted image of Sin City. You are not looking up in awe to the tops of the glitzy Strip casinos. You are the majesty surveying your realm below. The buildings close by have tangible form and then the sea of lights heads towards the distant hills. The tower also boasts of a number of rides guaranteed to make you scream, malls where you can shop till you drop and restaurants that will sate your gourmet desires.
#2 Binion’s Horseshoe
Where in Vegas
Binion’s Horseshoe stands at 128 Fremont Street, which is historically the most important address in Las Vegas. The first family of Vegas ran a casino there from 1951 to 2005. It went through different names and avatars over the years. The current casino still bears the Binion name but is not being managed by the family.
The Story
In 1951 Benny Binion bought a stake in the defunct El Dorado Club and the Binion Horseshoe Club came into being. The longest run on this property was from 1964 to 2005 as Binion’s Horseshoe. This iconic photo is from around 1988 when the Binion family bought the Mint Tower and added it to their casino.
Binion’s Horseshoe will be remembered for two highlights. The Million Dollar display was an arrangement of 100 $10,000 bills encased in a golden horseshoe. It was sold to a private collector in 1999. The World Series of Poker is the biggest poker tournament in the world today. Benny Binion started this in a humble way at this iconic casino in the 1970s.
#3 Welcome to the Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
Where in Vegas
This Vegas landmark is located at the Southern end of the Strip. Is official address is 5100 Las Vegas Bouleward South. One interesting technical trivia about the sign is that it is located 4 miles south of the actual city limits. But the residents of Sin City and the tourists consider this to be the starting point of Las Vegas.
The Story
The sign was erected in 1959 at a time it when there no dobt that Vegas would be destined for greatness. It is 25 feet tall and reverse side reads Drive Carefully Come Back Soon.
You can judge the importance of the sign by the fact that a grand golden jubilee celebration was held in May 2009. The iconic photo is from an event in the festivities. It entered the Guinness Book of World Recors for the largest ramp show of models in swimsuits.
#4 The Rat Pack
Where in Vegas
Madame Tussauds Las Vegas is at The Venetian in the Grand Canal Shoppes. The address is 3377 South Las Vegas Boulevard. The world famous waxworks museum opened in Sin City in 1999. Many celebrities, especially from the world of sports and music, have been intimately connected with Las Vegas. You can pose with them at Madame Tussauds. The Viva Las Vegas section features the legends from the past including Elvis. Afterwards slake your thirst at the Hangover Bar.
The Story
The Rat Pack of Vegas is the informal name given to a group of entertainers that regaled audiences in the 1960s. The sort of permanent members of this Rat Pack were Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. The Rat Pack's appearances were of unprecedented value because Las Vegas would then be flooded with wealthy gamblers who would add substantially to the casinos' coffers.
The waxworks exhibit at Madame Tussauds of Sinatra, Davis and Martin portrays the Rat Pack as in its heyday. The backdrop to the exhibit says ‘Sands’. It is remarkable that the Venetian that houses the museum was built at the erstwhile Sands Hotel and Casino property where the Rat Pack held most of their performances.
Come Take Your Own Pics
Las Vegas is a living, evolving and growing entity and there will be plenty of iconic photographs in the future. But some golden oldies, like the ones here, will endure for all time to come. Why don’t you visit Vegas yourself and make your own memories.
