Las Vegas, often called Sin City, is more popular travel destinations for millions of people. Visitors spend billions each year on conventions, food, entertainment, hotels, and gambling. In 2022, tourism brought in $44.9 billion to what was once a quiet desert town. Those numbers show how far the city has come. Yet many people still wonder what Las Vegas looked like before the mega‑resorts and digital signs transformed the Strip. The early decades shaped the identity that still draws travelers from around the world. These vintage Las Vegas photos reveal that era with striking detail. They show the charm, style, and intrigue that defined the city long before its modern glow.
From Las Vegas Founding to the Strip
As these vintage Las Vegas photos show, when Las Vegas was founded in 1905, it was little more than a stopover for a railroad that linked Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. It wasn’t until the start of construction on the Hoover Dam (then known as the Boulder Dam) in 1931 that Las Vegas began to emerge as a gambling and entertainment destination. With the help of the mafia, casinos and theaters were quickly built to entertain the thousands of young male workers employed or looking for work on the dam project. The electricity generated from the dam enabled rapid growth for casinos and hotels along Fremont Street, the main gambling hub before the Las Vegas Strip.
On December 26, 1946, Las Vegas changed forever. The first luxury resort on the Strip–The Flamingo Hotel— opened its doors at the total cost of $6 million. The Flamingo actually lost money after it was first opened and fabled gangster Bugsy Siegel was killed in 1947—presumably by the mafia bosses who bankrolled the project.
Early Losses for the Strip
In spite of early losses, the potential for Las Vegas became clear to many mobsters, lenders and other sources of cash and by 1954, the city had attracted over 8 million visitors and some of the biggest entertainers in the world, including Frank Sinatra.
Soon iconic Las Vegas hotels and casinos would come to light up Las Vegas Boulevard as depicted in these vintage Las Vegas photos. At the time hotels like the Sands, the Saraha, the New Frontier the Rivera and the Tropicana were the places to be in Las Vegas.
Some would say these vintage years were more glamorous times for Sin City. It was an adults-only playground and wasn’t the kind of place you’d bring the whole family for a vacation. How times have changed! Here’s a look back at the history of Las Vegas through some of its most iconic hotels, casinos and entertainment.
Vintage Las Vegas Photos of the Las Vegas Strip in 1941
The first resort on what would become the Las Vegas Strip was the El Rancho Vegas, which opened in 1941. It offered 63 rooms and a swimming pool positioned just off the two‑lane Highway 91. The property introduced a new style of Western‑themed hospitality that helped shape early Las Vegas.
The hotel quickly gained attention for its entertainment lineup. It hosted major performers who drew visitors from across the country. This El Rancho Vegas marquee from 1958 highlights Milton Berle, known as “Mr. Television” for his influence during the first decade of American TV. Images from that period often appear in vintage Las Vegas photos that document the city’s early rise.
In June 1960, a fire destroyed the main building of the El Rancho Vegas. That structure held the casino, the Nugget Neil Cocktail Lounge, a steak house, and the showroom. The loss marked a major shift in the property’s future.
The site reopened as the El Rancho Vegas Motor Inn in 1964. It struggled financially for several years until Howard Hughes purchased the land in the late 1960s. The Las Vegas Festival Grounds now occupies the location, yet the history of the El Rancho Vegas remains preserved in many vintage Las Vegas photos that capture the Strip’s earliest era.
Vintage Las Vegas Photos from the 1950s
The 1950s introduced several iconic casinos to Las Vegas as new funding flowed into the city. Cash from the Teamsters Union and other non‑traditional investors helped launch properties that shaped the Strip. The Desert Inn, the Sahara, the Sands, the Showboat, the Riviera, the Fremont, Binion’s Horseshoe, and the Tropicana all opened during this decade.
The Las Vegas Valley population grew from 8,422 in 1940 to more than 44,000 by the mid‑1950s. Above‑ground nuclear tests began only 65 miles from downtown. Many visitors watched the distant flashes from hotel rooftops and lounges. These moments appear in vintage Las Vegas photos that capture the city’s unusual mix of glamour and spectacle.
The Sky Room at the Desert Inn stood as the tallest building on the Strip when it opened in 1950. Guests enjoyed panoramic views of the growing resort corridor.
The Sahara followed in 1952 as the sixth major resort on the Strip. A 1956 photo taken from a passing car shows the hotel during its early years.
The Desert Inn changed again when Steve Wynn purchased the property in the late 1990s. It was demolished in 2001. The Wynn and Encore now stand on the site, yet many vintage Las Vegas photos preserve the original resort’s history.
An aerial view of Highway 91 from the mid‑1950s shows the Dunes and the Flamingo near the bottom of the frame. The image highlights how quickly the Strip expanded during this transformative decade.
Vintage Las Vegas Photos of the Strip 1960s
Here’s an aerial view of the Strip from 1964–65. The Flamingo sits to the right of the highway in a scene that shows a quieter Las Vegas. The surrounding desert still pressed against the roadway, yet the Strip continued to grow with each new resort. Many vintage Las Vegas photos from this period highlight that contrast.
The Flamingo Hotel appears again in a 1964 image looking south on the Strip. The property holds a unique place in city history. It is the oldest resort still operating on the Strip today. Its early design, neon signage, and landscaped grounds helped define the look of mid‑century Las Vegas.
Caesars Palace opened on August 5, 1966. The resort introduced a new era of themed mega‑properties with grand fountains and Roman‑inspired architecture. Its arrival shifted expectations for luxury and entertainment on the Strip. Vintage Las Vegas photos from the late 1960s often show the resort’s bold exterior rising above the desert floor.
Frank Sinatra began performing at Caesars Palace in 1967. He left the Sands after a dispute with Howard Hughes, who purchased the hotel in the mid‑1960s for $14.9 million. Sinatra’s shows drew huge crowds and helped cement the resort’s reputation.
Evel Knievel attempted his famous jump over the Caesars fountains on December 31, 1967. He cleared 141 feet, his longest jump at the time. The crash that followed caused severe injuries, yet the footage gained national attention after ABC purchased the rights. The moment remains one of the most dramatic events captured in vintage Las Vegas photos from the decade.
The Legendary Sands Hotel (1952-1996)
The Sands opened in 1952 as the seventh resort on the Strip. It featured 200 rooms and a casino that attracted visitors from across the country. Mobsters Meyer Lansky and Frank Costello held shares in the property. Their influence helped bring Frank Sinatra to the hotel in 1953 for his first performances there.
A 1959 image of the Sands Casino shows Copa showgirls Joan and Jane Ryba. Scenes like this appear often in vintage Las Vegas photos that highlight the energy and style of the era. The Sands offered a mix of elegance, nightlife, and celebrity appeal that shaped the identity of early Las Vegas.
The resort reached its peak in the early 1960s. The Rat Pack—Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop—turned the Copa Room into their home stage. Their shows created a cultural moment that defined Las Vegas cool. The 1960 film Ocean’s 11 was shot at the Sands and introduced the hotel’s charm to a global audience.
A 1961 Sands magazine advertisement featuring Sinatra captured the hotel’s growing fame. Another image from 1967 shows Sammy Davis Jr. headlining the Copa Room. These vintage Las Vegas photos preserve the legacy of a resort that shaped the city’s golden age.
The Elvis Years (1969-1976)
Although Elvis first performed in Las Vegas in 1956 and spent seven weeks filming Viva Las Vegas in 1963, his true connection to the city began in 1969. That year, he headlined at the new International Hotel. The engagement marked the start of a defining era in Las Vegas entertainment. Many vintage Las Vegas photos from this period show the excitement surrounding his return to live performance.
Elvis sold out 837 shows at the International, which became the Hilton in 1971. He performed for an estimated 2.5 million people. The showroom held only 2,000 seats, yet it was the largest in the city at the time. Fans packed the room night after night to see the King reclaim the stage.
Tickets to the dinner show cost $17.50 and included steak or lobster. A midnight show offered drinks but no meal at a lower price. These details appear often in vintage Las Vegas photos and advertisements that captured the atmosphere of his residency.
One image shows a slim, black‑clad Elvis on opening night of his seven‑year run. It had been nine years since his last concert. His first song on July 31, 1969 was “Blue Suede Shoes.” He was only 34 years old.
A 1970 publicity photo for the film Elvis reveals the intimacy of the International showroom. The King performed with a 30‑piece orchestra, a five‑man combo, and a seven‑member chorus. Another photo shows Elvis and Priscilla attending George Klein’s wedding in Las Vegas on December 5, 1970. The couple had married at the Aladdin Hotel in 1967.
Downtown Vintage Las Vegas Photos
Downtown Las Vegas predates the Strip and marks the original center of the city. Gambling became legal in 1931, and the area grew quickly as workers from the Hoover Dam arrived. After World War II, Fremont Street and the surrounding blocks began to develop into the “Glitter Gulch” that many people remember. Vintage Las Vegas photos from this era show a district on the edge of major change.
A 1940 view of Fremont Street reveals a quiet and modest roadway. Neon signs had not yet transformed the corridor. The shift came in the following decade as casinos expanded and tourism increased.
One striking image shows a mushroom cloud rising from an atomic test in 1951. The Nevada Test Site sat 65 miles northwest of the city. Residents could see the clouds clearly from downtown. Above‑ground tests ended in 1963 after the Limited Test Ban Treaty, yet underground tests continued until 1992.
Another photo captures the Golden Nugget in 1951. The casino opened in 1946 and remains one of the oldest properties in Las Vegas. It is also the largest hotel in the downtown area with 2,419 rooms.
The Mint Hotel appears in a 1959 image taken two years after its opening. It operated for 31 years before closing in 1988 and later became part of Binion’s Horseshoe. A 1962 photo of Fremont Street between 2nd and 3rd shows the growing density of signs and storefronts.
The Union Plaza Hotel opened at the end of Fremont Street in 1971. The property gained additional fame when scenes from the 1995 film Casino were shot inside the Center Stage Restaurant. These vintage Las Vegas photos preserve the evolution of downtown as it shifted from a small gambling district into a neon landmark.
The Beatles Arrive in Vegas
The Fab Four did perform in Las Vegas during their first American tour in 1964. Their visit created one of the most memorable moments in the city’s music history. Many vintage Las Vegas photos from that summer capture the excitement that surrounded their arrival.
They landed in Las Vegas at 1:45 a.m. after their show in San Francisco. Despite efforts to keep the arrival quiet, nearly 2,000 fans gathered at the airport. The crowd waited for hours and erupted when the group stepped off the chartered plane. The Beatles stayed at the Sahara Hotel in the 18th‑floor penthouse suite.
The group performed two shows at the Las Vegas Convention Center. One began at 4 p.m. and the second at 9 p.m. Each show drew about 8,000 people. Fans filled every seat and created a level of noise that became typical of early Beatles concerts.
Beatlemania reached its peak in 1964, so the band could not explore the casinos freely. Security concerns kept them inside the hotel. Staff brought several slot machines to their suite so they could play without attracting crowds. Police also warned them to avoid casino floors to prevent underage fans from following them inside. These moments appear in vintage Las Vegas photos that document a rare and electric chapter in the city’s entertainment history.
Las Vegas: A City of Constant Change
Vintage Las Vegas photos offer a rare look at a city that changed faster than almost any place in America. Each image captures a moment when the Strip and downtown were still taking shape, yet already full of personality, ambition, and spectacle.
These photos reveal the early resorts, the entertainers who defined entire eras, and the crowds who came seeking excitement. They show the growth of the Strip, the evolution of Fremont Street, and the cultural milestones that turned Las Vegas into a global destination.
Looking back at these scenes highlights how much the city transformed while still holding onto its original spark. The history preserved in vintage Las Vegas photos helps us understand why the city continues to fascinate millions and why its past remains as compelling as its bright, modern skyline.
