15 Photos of the Las Vegas Strip From Before You Were Born

Carly Tennes Published Yesterday in wow

Neon lights. Smoky casinos. Going nearly bankrupt after a few drinks and a couple of bad turns. Though several aspects of the Las Vegas experience have stayed consistent throughout the decades, a whole lot more have changed — just take a look at these photos of the iconic Nevada locale as seen during its mid-century heyday.

From tourists to newly-minted resorts, here are 15 photos of the Las Vegas strip from before you were born.

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1. “Jackpot”
“Slots on Fremont St, 1955.”

Courtesy of Loomis Dean
2. Big Hair, Bigger Bets
“Riviera Hotel casino floor, 1969.”

Courtesy of OldSchoolVegas on Instagram
3. Elvis Now!
The exterior of the International Hotel, as seen in 1971.

Courtesy of Charles Barnard
4. “Win! $1,000”
“Fashion Show Mall, Frontier and Stardust.”

Courtesy of OldSchoolVegas on Instagram
5. All Respect
Rodney Dangerfield On The Strip promoting his "No Respect" show at the Tropicana In 1977.

Courtesy of Harold Forte
6. Stardust
“Siegfried & Roy Headline The Stardust, 1980.”

Courtesy of @youngflorianray on Instagram
7. Hot and Fresh
"In 1946, El Rancho Vegas opened the Chuck Wagon Buffet, introducing city visitors to the concept of the all-you-can-eat buffet."

Courtesy of ClarkCountyMuseumNV on Instagram
8. ‘A Place In The Sun’
The ‘Rat Pack’ locale as seen during its early days.

Courtesy of Jim Cagney
9. Glitter Gulch
“The Plaza Hotel and Vegas Vickie, 1983.”

Courtesy of Elisa Leonelli
10. Family Photos
“Downtown Las Vegas in 1967.”

Courtesy of OldSchoolVegas on Instagram
11. Flamingo Feathers
The iconic Flamingo resort, as seen circa 1970.

Courtesy of OldSchoolVegas on Instagram
12. “Lucky One”
“The Plaza Showroom, guessing this from around their opening in 1971.”

Courtesy of PlazaLasVegas on Instagram
13. Final Frontier
The Las Vegas stretch, as seen in 1980.

Courtesy of Roadsidepictures on Reddit
14. ’60s Sights
“Fremont Street 1966.”

Courtesy of Dave Cameron
15. Desert Inn
“This rare color photo was taken by the Las Vegas News Bureau, the publicity arm of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, in 1952 to market Las Vegas. The Desert Inn was opened by Wilbur Clark and hosted 300 employees, making it the largest employer in the state, at the time.”

Courtesy of Vegas on Instagram

1. “Jackpot”
Courtesy of Loomis Dean

“Slots on Fremont St, 1955.”
2. Big Hair, Bigger Bets
Courtesy of OldSchoolVegas on Instagram

“Riviera Hotel casino floor, 1969.”
3. Elvis Now!
Courtesy of Charles Barnard

The exterior of the International Hotel, as seen in 1971.
4. “Win! $1,000”
Courtesy of OldSchoolVegas on Instagram

“Fashion Show Mall, Frontier and Stardust.”
5. All Respect
Courtesy of Harold Forte

Rodney Dangerfield On The Strip promoting his "No Respect" show at the Tropicana In 1977.
6. Stardust
Courtesy of @youngflorianray on Instagram

“Siegfried & Roy Headline The Stardust, 1980.”
7. Hot and Fresh
Courtesy of ClarkCountyMuseumNV on Instagram

"In 1946, El Rancho Vegas opened the Chuck Wagon Buffet, introducing city visitors to the concept of the all-you-can-eat buffet."
8. ‘A Place In The Sun’
Courtesy of Jim Cagney

The ‘Rat Pack’ locale as seen during its early days.
9. Glitter Gulch
Courtesy of Elisa Leonelli

“The Plaza Hotel and Vegas Vickie, 1983.”
10. Family Photos
Courtesy of OldSchoolVegas on Instagram

“Downtown Las Vegas in 1967.”
11. Flamingo Feathers
Courtesy of OldSchoolVegas on Instagram

The iconic Flamingo resort, as seen circa 1970.
12. “Lucky One”
Courtesy of PlazaLasVegas on Instagram

“The Plaza Showroom, guessing this from around their opening in 1971.”
13. Final Frontier
Courtesy of Roadsidepictures on Reddit

The Las Vegas stretch, as seen in 1980.
14. ’60s Sights
Courtesy of Dave Cameron

“Fremont Street 1966.”
15. Desert Inn
Courtesy of Vegas on Instagram

“This rare color photo was taken by the Las Vegas News Bureau, the publicity arm of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, in 1952 to market Las Vegas. The Desert Inn was opened by Wilbur Clark and hosted 300 employees, making it the largest employer in the state, at the time.”