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Vegas4Visitors Museum: Moulin Rouge (1955)
This hotel was a milestone for Las Vegas. Until it opened in 1955, the casinos in town were segregated, but when the Moulin Rouge came along it became the city's first hot spot where black and whites mingled and played. Although it seemed an instant success, drawing entertainers like Sammy Davis and the Rat Pack after their shows on The Strip, the hotel closed just a few months after it opened (the true story of why may never be known, but it is believed the mob had something to do with it). The property served at various times as low-income housing in what became a crime-ridden neighborhood and the bulk of the main casino building burned down in 2003, much of the rest of the property burned in 2009. The only thing that was rescued was the iconic sign, which was shipped to the Neon Museum and will be restored.

  • 1955 Postcard - Exterior
  • Moulin Rouge (1955)

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    1955 Postcard - Exterior
    This postcard was one in a series released by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

    The hotel was modeled after the Strip joints, with 110 rooms surrounding a big pool and patio area, a restaurant, a casino, a showroom, and other amenities typical of the era. It was a hailed as not only a showplace for its French design (stunning murals of Can-Can dancers and Paris scenery adorned the walls) but as an important step forward in race relations for the city.

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