61-461: 18b The Las Vegas Arts District is located in downtown Las Vegas , Nevada . The district includes art galleries, clothing and antique stores, restaurants, bars, and breweries. The Arts District is located north of the Las Vegas Strip . East Charleston Boulevard runs through the center of the district from west to east. According to the city, the district is officially bounded by Hoover Avenue to
122-532: A business improvement district , as well as pay for a $ 5.5 million streetscape improvement. This area is called the Fremont East Entertainment District. It features an eclectic mix of bars, clubs and restaurants. Centered on Las Vegas Boulevard on Fremont Street, this three-block renovation includes pedestrian-friendly street redesign, landscaping and retro-looking neon signage. Officially called 18b, The Las Vegas Arts District – named after
183-676: A main center for government services in the Las Vegas Valley . Government offices for the city of Las Vegas and Clark County are located here, as well as the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and several courts. Some former government buildings have been turned into attractions, such as the old Las Vegas Post Office and Courthouse becoming the Mob Museum . Two major freeways—Interstate 15 and Interstate 11/U.S. Route 95—cross in downtown Las Vegas. RTC Transit
244-581: A new building, which, along with the Bonneville Transit center, can serve as an anchor tenant for new development along Main Street. In addition, Main and Commerce streets in downtown Las Vegas are undergoing major beautification efforts, which started in mid-2014. Online retailer Zappos made major renovations to the old Las Vegas City Hall, and moved into the building in late 2013, which now houses its corporate headquarters. Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh had taken
305-483: A permanent memorial for victims. The Arts District also includes a park known as Boulder Plaza, sometimes used for events. It is located on what used to be a portion of Boulder Avenue. It was originally planned as a sculpture park, intended as a signature attraction for the area. Artist Yaacov Agam was hired in 2004 to create dozens of 18-foot columns for the park. The columns would have inlays of colors and shapes that fluctuate as visitors walk past them. Agam's project
366-1002: A personal, as well as a professional, interest in the urban area and contributed $ 350 million of his personal wealth toward a multifaceted revitalization effort called the Downtown Project, with businesses like The Writer's Block included among its investments. Artspace Projects Artspace Projects, Inc is a nonprofit organization based in Minneapolis , Minnesota that develops performance spaces for artists, otherwise known as placemaking . Artspace Projects has its headquarters in Minneapolis, and also has offices in Los Angeles, New Orleans , New York City , Seattle and Washington DC . The organization seeks to provide affordable live/work space to artists and arts organizations . As of July 2022 Artspace has 57 properties in operation around
427-426: A popular Italian restaurant by chef James Trees, opened in 2018. Six years later, it moved to a larger location within the district. Chef Wolfgang Puck is also a co-owner in 1228 Main, another restaurant which opened in 2023. A 63-unit apartment building, known as shareDowntown, opened in 2020. The English Hotel opened two years later, in partnership with chef Todd English . The four-story hotel includes 74 rooms and
488-570: A scaled-back side event would take place at the Arts District in September 2024. The Arts District is home to various galleries, clothing and antique stores, restaurants, bars, and breweries. Hop Nuts Brewing was the first to open in the Arts District, debuting in 2014. This was followed five years later by Able Baker Brewing Company, named in reference to the Able and Baker atomic tests . Esther's Kitchen,
549-556: A sound system allows for nightly shows. A variety of events also occur at the Experience, including several live concerts. Various entertainment and dining options are also located in the area. Property and business owners have been working to redevelop Fremont Street just east of the Fremont Street Experience. In 2002, the city of Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency joined with Fremont East property and business owners to create
610-484: A success, eventually helping to transform the area. The Arts District rose to prominence in the mid-2010s, with the opening of various businesses. The Arts District was conceived by Wes Myles (formerly Wes Isbutt), who opened the Arts Factory in 1997. Located at 107 East Charleston Boulevard, in what used to be an office supply warehouse, the Arts Factory housed several galleries. A year after opening, Myles partnered with
671-588: A variety of styles. The Clark County Government Center has a red sandstone exterior invoking a desert motif. The Smith Center for the Performing Arts , opened in 2012, is a more modern example of Art Deco design. Architect Frank Gehry designed the building for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health building in deconstructionist style. It was completed in 2010. Downtown serves as
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#1732869335457732-666: Is a hub for arts and culture in the metro area. The main venue for performing arts is the Art Deco -inspired Smith Center for the Performing Arts . In addition to The Smith Center and 18b, The Las Vegas Arts District, there are a number of educational facilities in the Cultural Corridor, located just north of the immediate downtown area. They include the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, the Neon Museum and Boneyard and
793-621: Is a mixed-use urban district being built on the land to the west of Fremont and Main streets. It will eventually feature a mix of retail, medical, hotel and residential developments. The city of Las Vegas is undertaking the development on 61 acres (25 ha) of land purchased from the Union Pacific Railroad in 1995. This is a major project for the Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency and the city. Projects that have been completed and are currently operating at Symphony Park are
854-728: Is a pilot program that provides rides in the Fremont East Entertainment District Nov 2017 – Nov 2018. The pilot program is a partnership with Keolis , the city of Las Vegas , and the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada . The shuttle runs Tuesday – Sunday 4:30pm – 8:30pm, with the main station stop at the Downtown Container Park. Shuttle service is suspended during the month of August. The economy of downtown Las Vegas has been primarily based on gambling and entertainment, as
915-711: Is a public transportation system providing bus service throughout Las Vegas, including the downtown area. A bus rapid transit link in Las Vegas called the Strip & Downtown Express (previously ACE Gold Line) with limited stops and frequent service was launched in March 2010. It connects downtown Las Vegas, the Strip and the Las Vegas Convention Center. It stops at the Bonneville Transit Center. Completed in 2012,
976-609: Is filled with office and government buildings. With several court buildings located here, there are many judicial-related businesses such as law firms in the immediate area. The financial district is home to the Las Vegas City Hall building, the Lloyd D. George U.S. Courthouse and several bank buildings such as Bank of America . The Clark County Marriage Bureau is also located here at the Regional Justice Center. Downtown
1037-803: Is greater than both the Willis Tower in Chicago and the Empire State Building in New York City . The city is also working to attract events to the downtown area. Recently held events include Helldorado and the Life is Beautiful festival. In 2012 several new downtown projects were completed. The Smith Center for the Performing Arts , the new Mob Museum and a new City Hall building opened. The Discovery Children's Museum opened next door to The Smith Center in 2013. The Las Vegas City Hall now operates out of
1098-537: Is located a few miles to the south. The city has been working on revitalization efforts to entice more visitors and residents to the downtown area. World Market Center Las Vegas consists of three giant buildings, with a total of 5.1 million square feet, in a facility designed by Jon Jerde . It is home to semiannual trade shows for the furniture and furnishing industries. This is one of several entities that are helping to diversity downtown Las Vegas's economy and job base. The square footage of World Market Center Las Vegas
1159-637: Is located at Main and Commerce streets. In 2022, the Arts District added two neon signs in the form of 25-foot-tall showgirls, moved from an earlier location near the Strat observation tower. The Arts District features numerous murals. One of them, designed to resemble a Las Vegas postcard, was painted in 2020. Known as Greetings from Las Vegas , it has since become a popular photo spot. 36°09′32″N 115°09′04″W / 36.159°N 115.151°W / 36.159; -115.151 Downtown Las Vegas Downtown Las Vegas (commonly abbreviated as DTLV )
1220-552: Is located in the center of the Las Vegas Valley and just north of the Las Vegas Strip , centered on Fremont Street , the Fremont Street Experience and Fremont East . The city defines the area as bounded by I-15 on the west, Washington Avenue on the north, Maryland Parkway on the east and Sahara Avenue on the south. Perhaps the earliest visitors to the Las Vegas area were nomadic Paleo-Indians , who traveled to
1281-452: Is named after him. Eleven years later, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chose Las Vegas as the site to build a fort halfway between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles , where they would travel to gather supplies. The fort was abandoned several years afterward. The remainder of this fort can still be seen at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Washington Avenue at
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#17328693354571342-502: Is the central business district and historic center of Las Vegas , Nevada , United States. It is the original townsite, and the Downtown gaming area was the primary gambling district of Las Vegas prior to the Strip . As the urban core of the Las Vegas Valley , it features a variety of hotel and business highrises , cultural centers, historical buildings and government institutions, as well as residential and retail developments. Downtown
1403-556: Is the case in the greater Las Vegas Valley . However, the smaller downtown casinos earn revenues that pale in comparison to the mega resorts on the Las Vegas Strip further south. As of 2014, there have been major renovations of several downtown resorts such as The Plaza , Golden Gate Hotel, Golden Nugget , El Cortez Hotel & Casino, the D and the Downtown Grand. Downtown Las Vegas also houses some corporate offices, as well as
1464-462: Is the city's best example of Art Deco architecture. The Morelli House, built in 1959, is a notable mid-century modern design. The building that formerly housed the Las Vegas City Hall, and now is home to the corporate headquarters for the online retailer Zappos.com, is a notable example of 1970s modern architecture. As Las Vegas boomed, more recent buildings tended to take inspiration from
1525-527: The El Cortez (1941) on Fremont and Last Frontier (1942) on U.S. Route 91 , further south, later to be known as Las Vegas Boulevard/ Strip . Following World War II , lavishly decorated hotels, gambling casinos and big-name entertainment became synonymous with Las Vegas. The first large casino in Las Vegas was built downtown, the Golden Nugget , completed in 1946. In 1951, the first atomic bomb detonation at
1586-555: The Nevada Test Site , 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, occurred. City residents and visitors were able to witness the mushroom clouds until 1963, when the Limited Test Ban Treaty required that nuclear tests be moved underground. Meanwhile, Downtown and the Strip began competing for tourists, with the famous Vegas Vic waving cowboy sign downtown (1951) being answered by the opening of the tallest building in Las Vegas,
1647-614: The Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park . Las Vegas was founded as a city in 1905, when 110 acres of land adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks were auctioned in what would become the downtown area. The first hotel in the area, the Hotel Nevada, was built in 1906; it is still operating as the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino . In 1911, Las Vegas was incorporated as a city. The year 1931
1708-468: The 18 blocks the district originally encompassed – this area is home to the city's arts scene with its mix of art galleries, studios and stores. Many arts district stores offer antiques, vintage clothing, high fashion, and mid-20th century furniture/furnishings and other collectible items. Centered on Main Street and Charleston Boulevard, the area hosts the popular First Friday festival every month featuring art, music and other performances. Symphony Park
1769-448: The Arts Factory in 2001, but progress on an arts district was otherwise slow-moving. Las Vegas, up to that point, had not been known as an art-centric city. Other factors were high rent rates and a common belief that the downtown area was crime-ridden. Myles estimated that it would take four more art businesses for the district to flourish. With a $ 100,000 loan from the city council, S2 co-owner Jack Solomon moved his company's headquarters to
1830-482: The Cashman Center. Fremont Street is home to most of downtown's hotels and casinos. These are the original casinos of Las Vegas, which existed before the more famous Las Vegas Strip . The Fremont Street Experience is a canopied street of the downtown area where casinos have been connected to the street and to each other in a unique visual manner. An audio-visual system consisting of more than 2 million lights and
1891-591: The Charleston Boulevard corridor to Valley View Boulevard, along Martin L. King Boulevard and in Symphony Park. The centerpiece of this expanded district will be the 260,000-square-foot UNLV School of Medicine , which will include an educational building and library. The school was granted preliminary accreditation in late 2016 and can begin accepting students for its 2017 charter class. Centered on Bonneville Avenue and Casino Center Boulevard, most of this area
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1952-589: The Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and the Discovery Children's Museum. Business and government leaders have begun working on a plan to expand downtown's Las Vegas Medical District (LVMD) from its current 200 acres to at least 680 acres. While currently offering the largest concentration of health-care services in the Las Vegas valley, an expanded district would allow for additional health-care services and opportunities. Areas for planned expansion include
2013-635: The Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park. Also in this area are a number of neon signs from former Las Vegas casinos and landmarks, which have been restored and installed on several streets around downtown, as well as throughout the Fremont Street Experience. A famous neon icon of downtown Las Vegas is the Vegas Vic sign, also located at the Fremont Street Experience. Several buildings of architectural significance exist downtown, although being founded in 1905, Las Vegas lacks
2074-468: The Pepper Club, a restaurant by English. A condo hotel addition is scheduled to open by late 2025. Other hotel and apartment projects are also planned, with some potentially opening in 2025. The Arts District has several performance theaters, including Majestic Repertory Theatre , opened in 2016. The Las Vegas Community Healing Garden was established shortly after the 2017 Las Vegas shooting , serving as
2135-491: The World Market Center Las Vegas, a frequent host of trade shows and conventions. Recently, the opening of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the arrival of the new Zappos headquarters downtown has started to attract new medical and technology-oriented businesses to the area. The downtown area in recent decades has played second fiddle to the larger and more famous Las Vegas Strip , which
2196-599: The adaptive reuse of older buildings but can also involve new construction, are the most visible of Artspace’s activities. Artspace owns or co-owns all the buildings it develops. Revenues in excess of expenses are set aside for preventive maintenance, commons area improvements, and building upgrades. In addition to its roles as developer, owner, and manager, Artspace acts as a consultant to communities, organizations, and individuals seeking information and advice about developing affordable housing and work space for artists, performing arts centers, and cultural districts, often within
2257-443: The area 10,000 years ago, leaving behind petroglyphs . Anasazi and Paiute tribes came here at least 2,000 years ago. The area was named Las Vegas, which is Spanish for the meadows , in the 1800s because it featured abundant wild grasses, as well as desert spring waters for westward travelers. The year 1844 marked the arrival of John C. Frémont , whose writings helped lure pioneers to the area. Downtown Las Vegas' Fremont Street
2318-477: The area to help spur additional development. Proponents hoped to transform the area into a SoHo -style neighborhood. The name Gateway Arts District was in use as of 2001, and the area was renamed a year later as the Las Vegas Arts District. By the end of 2002, numerous shops and restaurants had opened in the area, and further development was in the planning stage. In 2005, the former Holsum bread factory
2379-411: The building was sold in 2015, and continues to operate. The Arts District became more prominent during the mid-2010s, as new businesses moved into the area. Its popularity increased further after a beautification project concluded in 2018. Property values in the area also increased. As growth continued, the Arts District began to struggle with an inadequate number of parking spaces. Between 2020 and 2023,
2440-538: The change, as it reduced visitation to the district. S2 Art moved out of the district in 2011, and Myles had become tired of battling with the city over codes and permits. He also felt the city was giving more attention to other downtown projects, including the World Market Center and the Smith Center for the Performing Arts . He announced in 2012 that he would sell the Arts Factory. After several failed attempts,
2501-568: The city to throw a street festival in the immediate area known as the Gateway Music & Arts Experience. Myles hoped that the festival would demonstrate the potential for an arts district in the downtown area . Mayor Oscar Goodman , elected in 1999, became a prominent supporter of the idea. A year later, the Las Vegas City Council was in discussions to make the district a reality. S2 Art, an art publisher and retailer, opened next to
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2562-413: The condo projects, progress remained sluggish in the Arts District. By 2008, businesses in the area had been featured in television commercials for several companies, including McDonald's . In 2009, a sign was installed on Casino Center Boulevard for the newly named 18b Arts District, a reference to the original number of city blocks in the area. Because of zoning changes, the district made up 21 blocks at
2623-595: The country. One of these is in the old Read's Department Store building in Bridgeport, Connecticut , known as Artspace Read's , which opened in May 2005 after a full restoration and conversion of the building (also known as the Sterling Market Lofts building). Artspace programs fall in three broad categories: property development, asset management and national consulting. Development projects, which typically involve
2684-436: The design, criticizing its simplicity and questioning its relevance to the history of Las Vegas. Oppenheim's initial vision for this proposal consisted of four paintbrushes, but this too was scaled back because of budget constraints. The final project cost $ 700,000. The paintbrushes were installed in 2010, but one had to be realigned to get the angle correct. The LED lights had also yet to be programmed. Oppenheim died in 2011, and
2745-402: The district saw 30 new businesses. The city purchased several parcels in order to build a parking garage for the district, with completion expected by late 2025. The city also partnered with Artspace Projects , hoping to eventually develop affordable living and commercial spaces for artists in the district. In 2024, CNN called the Arts District "the most exciting neighborhood" in Las Vegas. It
2806-459: The event after visiting her son in Portland, where she learned of a local event known as First Thursday. In 2003, the city provided a $ 5,000 grant for billboards promoting First Friday. By the end of 2005, the event was bringing 8,000 to 10,000 people to the Arts District monthly. First Friday soon grew to include musical performances, and eventually became too large for Funkhouser to handle. The event
2867-407: The face of the Las Vegas gaming industry by opening up The Mirage , the Las Vegas Strip 's first mega-casino resort. This strengthened the pull of visitors away from the downtown area. In 1995, the Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas's downtown area was opened. This canopied, five-block area features 24 million LED lights and 550,000 watts of sound from dusk until midnight during shows held on
2928-564: The nine-storey Riviera on the Strip; the Riviera was trumped by the twelve-storey Fremont Hotel and Casino (1956) downtown. By the late 1950s, most new casino-resorts were opening on the Strip, including the Dunes (1955), Tropicana (1957), Stardust (1958), Tallyho (1962), and Caesars Palace (1966), in comparison, competing contemporary developments downtown included The Mint (1957), Lady Luck (1964), and Four Queens (1966). 1955 also saw
2989-438: The north and Commerce Street to the west. The southern boundary runs just past Colorado Avenue, while the east border runs along 4th Street up until Charleston, continuing along South Las Vegas Boulevard the rest of the way to Hoover. The idea of an arts district in Las Vegas dates to 1998, and slowly developed in the years to come. A First Friday event was launched in 2002, to promote the new district. The event proved to be
3050-776: The number of historical buildings of older cities. Exceptions include the Historic Fifth Street School, built in 1936 in the Spanish-mission style and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Also listed is the Las Vegas Post Office and Courthouse , which currently serves as home to The Mob Museum and is one of the few historical neoclassical buildings in the city. Built in 1930, the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies and Performing Arts
3111-508: The opening of the Moulin Rouge Hotel just west of downtown, the first racially integrated casino-hotel in Las Vegas. Full desegregation of other Las Vegas properties followed in 1960, and during the 1960s, corporations and business powerhouses such as Howard Hughes were building and buying hotel-casino properties. Gambling was referred to as "gaming", which transitioned into legitimate business. In 1989, entrepreneur Steve Wynn changed
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#17328693354573172-467: The project was finalized several months later. Both paintbrushes were installed along East Charleston Boulevard, one at the intersection of South Las Vegas Boulevard and the other located several blocks west. Originally, they were to be installed across from each other. In 2018, another installation by local artist Luis Varela-Rico was added. Titled Radial Symmetry , it consists of two steel sculptures weighing 10 tons apiece. The project cost $ 246,000, and
3233-434: The time of the sign's installation. In 2010, RTC Transit established a bus route through the Arts District, a project accompanied by new trees and wider sidewalks. The route was expected to bring 6,000 riders through the district daily. It was intended to replace an older route served by RTC's Deuce buses. However, RTC restored the old route due to popular demand, while retaining the new route as well. Artists were upset by
3294-526: The top of each hour. Due to years of revitalization efforts, 2012 was dubbed "The Year of Downtown". Projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars made their debut at this time. They included The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and Discovery Children's Museum , the Mob Museum , the Neon Museum , and a new Las Vegas City Hall complex. In 2018, plans for a new downtown expo center were announced, replacing and expanding on space previously provided by
3355-503: The transit terminal serves as a central transfer point for downtown and features 16 vehicle bays for buses and 100 bike racks. The Downtown Loop is a free shuttle servicing many attractions in downtown Las Vegas. The Loop runs continuously during operating hours and arrives at each stop every 20 minutes. The hours of operation are Monday through Thursday: 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Friday through Saturday: 3 p.m. to 12 a.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The AAA Free Self-Driving Shuttle
3416-494: Was a pivotal one for Las Vegas. At that time, Nevada legalized casino gambling and reduced residency requirements for divorce to six weeks. This year also witnessed the beginning of construction on nearby Hoover Dam . The influx of construction workers and their families helped Las Vegas avoid economic calamity during the Great Depression . It was completed in 1935. Key hotel developments serving tourists in Las Vegas included
3477-403: Was also noted that the area is largely unknown to tourists, who typically spend most of their time on the nearby Las Vegas Strip . A First Friday event was launched in 2002, to showcase artists' work and to promote the district, the existence of which was not well known. The monthly event was conceived by Cindy Funkhouser, who owned the antique store Funk House. Funkhouser was inspired to start
3538-421: Was considered the best: neon colors being poured from paint buckets, accompanied by flamingos. However, it was later determined that this project would cost too much at $ 3 million. Oppenheim's eventual design consists of two slanted paintbrushes standing 45 feet. Colorful LED lights beam from the tops of the paintbrushes at night, referencing the city's history with neon signage. Some artists were disappointed with
3599-479: Was eventually canceled as a result of disagreement between local business owners, who were at odds with each other on what material to use for the columns. The park, however, had already been completed. Art is featured throughout the district. In 2007, business owners wanted an art installation to mark the gateway to the area. Dennis Oppenheim was one of several artists who competed for the opportunity; none of their proposals were widely acclaimed, although Oppenheim's
3660-462: Was renovated into Holsum Lofts, housing numerous businesses. In 2006, artists voiced opposition to new high-rise condominium projects in the area, including Newport Lofts , expressing concern that real-estate prices would rise as a result. Proponents such as Solomon argued that the projects would bring foot traffic to the Arts District, while the artists believed that most units would be used as vacation homes rather than full-time residences. Aside from
3721-466: Was scaled back as a result of this and of financial problems brought on by the Great Recession . Businessman Tony Hsieh and several investors purchased the rights to First Friday in 2011. First Friday is a free event and continues to be held monthly. It is credited with helping transform the area into an arts district. Life Is Beautiful , an annual festival held in downtown Las Vegas, announced that
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