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One-on-one interview with Bob Stoldal, Las Vegas Historian, Former Television Executive.

The legendary Tropicana has closed its doors, but Las Vegas' raucous history is still celebrated in sites devoted to the mob, neon and even divorce. Las Vegas rose like a mirage from the lonely Nevada desert in the 1940s and has since gained a reputation for  looking forward and building upward without sentiment or regret. But even the most hard-hearted resident had to give pause last week when it was announced that the beloved Tropicana resort will be demolished and replaced by a Major League Baseball stadium.

Representatives of Bally’s Corp. and Las Vegas’ Neon Museum are still assessing how they will rescue a stained-glass atrium canopy that arched over the Tropicana’s main casino for years. But one other piece of Trop history — a blue neon sign over one of the entrances of the shuttered hotel-casino — was illuminated in a ceremonial flick of a switch Wednesday.

Las Vegas isn’t good at documenting its art history. Does it matter? I've lately been racking what’s left of my brain for details of an old exhibit — a show by local artists who created work to protest Steve Wynn’s implosion of the Dunes. So, this would’ve been sometime in 1993, maybe? Organized by the then-newish Contemporary Arts Collective, it took place in a storefront on Maryland Parkway near 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ. I think. I mean, it’s been a few years.

Whether it's memories of their time at the hotel's pool or taking in one of its longlist of entertainment acts, making sure records are kept of the Tropicana Hotel and Casino is top of mind for many.

On a Saturday evening in February, I attended a presentation by archaeologist Alicia Odewale, PhD. She is investigating the 1921 race riot in the Black town of Greenwood, just across the tracks from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

A week after closing its doors, it was reported that the Neon Museum and 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ will preserve the historical heritage of the Tropicana Hotel, which will give up its land to build the next Las Vegas baseball stadium.

Community groups are working with Tropicana Las Vegas on preserving historic and sentimental pieces ahead of the resort's closure next week.

The Las Vegas restaurants frequented by Frank Sinatra often became just as famous as the casinos where he sang (at least with fans hoping to interact with the enormously popular performer). Numerous Las Vegas-based eateries have claimed to be the singer's favorite over the years, and even more have chosen to honor him through pictures and music, like the Sinatra Italian Restaurant at Wynn Las Vegas. Although modern diners looking for the late singer's influence when visiting a Las Vegas restaurant have plenty of choices, many Sinatra-focused businesses weren't actually open while he was still performing.

Out of the many topics to address during Black History Month, a Clark County art exhibit this year focuses on one in particular: the ordinary aspects of life in the Black community.

The West Las Vegas Library has served as a community anchor to the Historic Westside for 50 years. Today, the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District announced that the West Las Library’s role in the community is expanding with a new 41,178 square-foot, state-of-the-art branch. A groundbreaking celebration was held on Feb. 27, 2024, at 1861 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, the location of the new library, which is slated to open in Fall 2025.

The West Las Vegas Library has served as a community anchor to the Historic Westside for 50 years. Today, the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District announced that the West Las Library’s role in the community is expanding with a new 41,178 square-foot, state-of-the-art branch. A groundbreaking celebration was held on Feb. 27, 2024, at 1861 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, the location of the new library, which is slated to open in Fall 2025.