Can Las Vegas be known for our … architecture?
Absolutely. True, Vegas is known for many things, and architecture isn’t usually one of them. But there are so many historic neighborhoods here. I’m always surprised by how many people want to know the story of the city through its architecture. People get lost in the neon lights here, but there is so much more in a city that is constantly reinventing itself.
Tell us about your April 16-19 Home + History Las Vegas festival.
It features 40 curated experiences that advocate for our historic communities across Nevada. It’s interactive, too, with guided walking and bike neighborhood tours, educational workshops, plus scenic drives, cocktail receptions and speaker presentations. It connects people to the places and stories that shape our community. Some are hidden in plain sight. We honor the homes, the structures and the people who shaped Vegas. Architecture is another way to tell Vegas’ history.
What will stand out for those who take the tours?
There’s the Scotch 80s neighborhood walk where we talk about the influential figures who lived there. There’s a 90-minute bike tour taking you on a cruise through downtown to explore 1920s bungalows and 1960s motels. And we have a stroll through downtown’s sweetest wedding chapels. You can take a bike tour of Paradise Crest and look at the custom homes and midcentury architecture, lush landscaping and big lots.
Will we see shag carpeting?
(Laughs.) I grew up in the Midwest, so it’s very interesting for me to walk through the Paradise Palm neighborhood and find a house with shag carpet on the walls. Some houses are like stepping into the 1950s … and people do actually live there, so there are modern conveniences. The houses are beautifully staged, and you can see the artistry, time and love for the property.
What makes Vegas unique from a building point of view?
The architecture demonstrates the desert environment, which can be harsh. You see the intentional design of the homes to withstand 100-plus degrees. You also see the influences of Southern California in a lot of the designs. Those architects came to Vegas while many tourists from California moved to Vegas in the 1940s once they developed the highways.
What stands out for you the most about the way the city has grown?
We’ve gone from a railroad outpost to one of America’s most dynamic cities in so many ways.
What’s a weird, only-in-Vegas story you’ve heard from the homeowners?
I have heard homeowners say when they ripped up the carpeting or the original wood flooring, they found X, Y or Z. I’ve heard rumors about people who left money in a house and the homeowners found it during a renovation. Each house has a story. ◆
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