Experience midcentury design frozen in time during the Vintage Vegas Home Tour. PHOTO COURTESY OF HOME + HISTORY LAS VEGAS
Some of Las Vegas’ most renowned architecture has been around since the city’s inception. Preserving these landmarks is no small task, and much of the credit goes to the Nevada Preservation Foundation (NPF). Since 2014, the nonprofit has collaborated with stakeholders to protect and sustain the city’s beloved establishments. One of the most well-known ways NPF has fostered community support is through Home + History Las Vegas (HHLV). “What began as a single vintage Vegas home tour, modeled after Modernism Week and co-created by Nevada Preservation Foundation and vintage neighborhood specialist Jack LeVine, has since expanded into a multi-day event filled with tours, lectures and immersive experiences,” explains NPF executive director Paige Figanbaum.
Learn the secrets of creating a midcentury home during Bringing Your Vintage Dream to Life: Sourcing for Your Period Renovation II PHOTO COURTESY OF HOME + HISTORY LAS VEGAS
Taking place from May 1 to 4, this year’s 10th-anniversary event will feature over 30 unique experiences, including bus tours, self-driven adventures and exclusive behind-the-scenes gatherings. With so much to explore, Figanbaum shares some of the standout highlights. For those looking to head out on foot, she suggests the Doorstep Diaries of McNeil Estates and Booming Las Vegas—an exploration of one of the city’s most popular historic neighborhoods of almost 600 homes—or a journey through Old Vegas’ neon lights during the Hidden + Unique Fremont Tour led by famed guide Rick Hooker.
Attendees should also make time for the Underground Celebrity Icons of Las Vegas Bus Tour. “Guests will hop aboard a double-decker bus for a bird’s-eye view of celebrity homes and iconic movie locations in Paradise Palms, Las Vegas’ premier midcentury modern community,” hints Figanbaum. “The tour concludes with an unforgettable journey 25 feet below the desert floor to explore the legendary underground mansion, one of the largest subterranean bunkers in the country.” If you prefer to go at your own pace, the final day of the festival offers the self-driven Vintage Vegas Home Tour, “a fascinating look into the history, architecture and interior design that defines vintage Vegas living,” she adds.
“Las Vegas is a city of constant reinvention. But its history is just as important. These events allow locals and visitors to touch the past and understand how Las Vegas continues as a magical place, unlike anywhere else in the world.”–PAIGE FIGANBAUM
With conservation at the helm of HHLV, revered architect and advocate for 20th-century architectural preservation Alan Hess returns Saturday night for a keynote speech at the historic Fremont Hotel & Casino. In his second festival appearance, Hess will discuss Vegas’ transformation and the legacy of Fremont architect Wayne McAllister.
Capping off the weekend in style, a vintage luau experience on May 2 hosted by Mid Mod Makers invites visitors to “get lei’d” in Vegas. Guests can enjoy mesmerizing performances by synchronized swimmers, live tropical-inspired music and an exclusive look at the brand’s latest designs.
“Las Vegas is a city of constant reinvention,” says Figanbaum. “But its history is just as important. These events allow locals and visitors to touch the past and understand how Las Vegas continues as a magical place, unlike anywhere else in the world.”
Photography by: Home + History Las Vegas
