弗里蒙特街，拉斯维加斯市中心，1960年. 《靠谱的体育网站》，华纳兄弟s
弗里蒙特街, the famously glowing thoroughfare that runs through the heart of Downtown Las Vegas, 它的起源可以追溯到1905年. In its early days 弗里蒙特街 was home to a burgeoning business district brought about by the building of a train depot erected at Main and Fremont, 广场酒店和赌场现在在哪里.
The 1920s saw the nationwide prohibition of alcohol and later the onset of the Great Depression.
Vegas’ proximity to the construction of the Hoover Dam in 1931 meant big business for the growing community, and visitors flooded in to see the massive construction project. 幸运的是, 1931 also saw gambling become more widely legalized in the Silver State, while simultaneously laws connected to marriage and divorce were laxed making Nevada a popular destination for those looking to get hitched (or un-hitched) in a hurry.
In 1933 Prohibition was repealed and made way for taverns and casinos to set up shop along 弗里蒙特街, they built near the busy street to catch the interest of strolling sightseers. Neon signs took center stage in the late 1920s into the 1930s turning the dark desert into a glowing spectacle of light earning Fremont the nickname “闪闪发光的峡谷.”
While neon fell out of fashion in other parts of the US starting in the late 1960s, it thrived along 弗里蒙特街; casino owners, sign designers and fabricators conspired to build iconic signs that reached high into the sky, towering above the visitors walking along the crowded sidewalks. The spectacle of these signs combined with the allure of clanging slot machines, comped drinks and free air conditioning beckoned visitors off the street and into the casinos.
为了振兴市中心, in 1994 弗里蒙特街 was closed to car traffic and converted into a pedestrian walkway complete with a canopy that provides shade during the day and an LED light show at night to more than 26 million visitors annually. The canopy also helps to protect noteworthy neon signs such as 维加斯维克, the neon cowboy who has been greeting visitors since 1951. The next time you are on 弗里蒙特街 stop by and say “Howdy” to this colossal cowpoke.
弗里蒙特街特色物业
拉斯维加斯火车站 (1905-1969) | 广场 (1971年至今)
拉斯维加斯火车站(1908年. 拉斯维加斯大学图书馆特别馆藏 & 档案
The intersection of Main and Fremont was home to Las Vegas’ first train station, 1905年由一节改装的火车车厢改建而成. By 1906, the fully operational 西班牙语 Mission-style train depot pictured here was erected to welcome passengers to the growing (but not yet glowing) city. The site would go on to become the home of the Union Plaza Hotel in 1971.
拉斯维加斯俱乐部 (1949-2015) | Circa度假村和赌场 (2020年至今)
拉斯维加斯俱乐部，1949年. 拉斯维加斯大学图书馆特别馆藏 & 档案
The 拉斯维加斯俱乐部 installed one of the first neon signs on 弗里蒙特街 in 1930 before relocating in 1949 to the northeast corner of Main and Fremont, 欧弗兰酒店的旧址. Its neon signage received a flashy overhaul the same year (pictured here).
The 拉斯维加斯俱乐部 closed in 2015 making way for Circa, 它于2020年开业.
闪闪发光的峡谷 (1980-2016) | Circa度假村和赌场 (2020年至今)
维加斯薇姬，1981年. 拉斯维加斯新闻社
The home of famed neon cowgirl 维加斯维克kie, 闪闪发光的峡谷 opened in 1980. 该物业一直运营到2016年, when it was demolished to build Circa度假村和赌场, 它于2020年开业. Vickie was restored and relocated inside Circa to keep her kicking for years to come.
含金量 (1946年至今)
1963年，金块赌场. 拉斯维加斯大学图书馆特别馆藏 & 档案
金块于1946年开业, and received a major neon facelift in 1961 when YESCO sign designer Kermit Wayne wrapped the exterior in glowing neon tubes to create the large “bull nose” sign at the corner of 2nd and Fremont. The “1905” bull nose on display in the 霓虹灯墓地 actually dates to a casino expansion in 1971. All neon was removed from the façade of the casino as part of a remodeling project by Steve Wynn in 1984.
宁的马蹄 (1951- 2005) | 宁的 (1951年至今)
马蹄铁酒店和赌场，c. 1960s. 拉斯维加斯大学图书馆特别馆藏 & 档案
比尼恩的马蹄铁于1951年开始运营. The 1961 exterior re-design by YESCO designers resulted in one of the largest displays of neon in the world, complete with rotating horseshoes and a three-story “H Wall.” Examples of both are on display in the 霓虹灯墓地. 该酒店在2004年将其名称缩短为“宁的”. Many of the original neon elements found in the 1961 re-design can be seen on 弗里蒙特街 today.
先锋俱乐部 (1942-1995) | 维加斯维克 (1951年至今)
先锋俱乐部，c. 1950s. 拉斯维加斯大学图书馆特别馆藏 & 档案
先锋俱乐部 was built in 1942 and changed its footprint along 弗里蒙特街 many times over the years. But it is best remembered for the iconic neon cowboy 维加斯维克, which was added to the exterior of the building in 1951. 赌场于1995年关闭, Vic himself has remained as a timeless reminder of the glory days of “闪闪发光的峡谷.”
费兹 (1987-2012) | D (2012年至今)
菲茨杰拉德的2008. 拉斯维加斯新闻社
费兹 opened on the site of the former Sundance Casino in 1987. 继菲茨杰拉德2001年破产之后, 那处房产是唐·巴登买的, 加里的非裔美国赌场老板, 印第安纳州. Barden became the first Black casino owner in Downtown Las Vegas. 在2011年巴登去世后, 房产是德里克·史蒂文斯买的, 谁在2012年以" D "的名字开了这家店.
埃尔科特斯 (1941年至今)
埃尔科特斯酒店和赌场，1958年. 拉斯维加斯新闻社
The 埃尔科特斯 opened in 1941, becoming Downtown Las Vegas’ first major resort. In 1945, the 埃尔科特斯 was sold to Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel and his associates, and used for training employees at the soon-to-be-opened Flamingo Hotel. 1946年，这处房产再次被出售. In 1952, 埃尔·科尔特斯安装了霓虹灯箭头, marquee and scaffold-style roof sign – which is still on display today.
