Opened in 1941, the El Cortez Hotel & Casino is one of Las Vegas’s oldest operating casinos — and one of its most authentic. In a city obsessed with reinvention, the El Cortez is a rare survivor, maintaining its vintage spirit while still feeling alive and relevant. Preservation That Matters In 2013, the El Cortez earned its place on the National Register of Historic Places, and it’s easy to see why. The building’s Spanish Colonial
Tucked away in downtown Las Vegas, The Mob Museum—formerly known as the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement—offers more than just a glimpse into criminal history. It’s also a powerful example of historic preservation done right. Housed in a striking 1933 neoclassical courthouse (originally a U.S. Post Office and Federal Courthouse), the building is a rare survivor from an era when clean lines, bold function, and civic pride defined public architecture. Its marble
From our retro coffee table to yours comes a great book – an awesome gift or something to pour over in our own home! Suppose you’ve ever spotted a cookie jar shaped like a hamburger or a canister set with tropical fruit motifs and thought, “I remember that design!” or “I have to have that design!”. In that case, you’ll want to get your hands on Los Angeles Potteries: A Collector’s Journey through Artistry, Craft,
When you step into the Neon Museum in Las Vegas — known as the “Neon Boneyard” — you step into a glowing archive of the city’s mid-century soul. This outdoor museum is home to more than 250 rescued neon signs, each telling the story of a bygone era when Vegas was all glitter, glamour, and grit. From Preservation Dream to Living History Efforts to save Las Vegas’s neon history began in the late 1980s, driven
I can hear Pam screaming in argument, but I really think one of the issues with incorporating TRUE 1950’s decorating styles into our lives today is that the colors were SO bright. In their defense, I don’t even think these two rooms are really that bad. The bottom one is supposed to be a little girl’s room and the top one is definitely cheerful. But I do think this amazing leap in color is one
When you think of iconic furniture designers, for most people, one of the first names that will spring to mind is that of Charles Eames. The American designer, born in 1907, was one of the 20th century’s most celebrated and revered designers of furniture and he was responsible for crafting some of the most recognisable and sought after pieces of designer furniture of his generation. Charles Eames was responsible for countless pieces of designer furniture
Distinguished by its fabulous diamond shaped exterior, the Ohio House is a fabulous example of mid-century architecture right in the middle of downtown Chicago. Other architectural points of interest include the matching suspended sign, held up by a geometric metal grid which is itself reflected in the pattern block fence that runs along Ohio Street. Rough-faced stone walls and a large stainless steel sign on the east facade add to it’s distinctly Chicago Mid-Century design.
We’ve been watching the restoration of the Boots Court Motel in Joplin, Missouri for years, from the “Save the Boots Motel campaign”, until they reopened in 2012 and we got to visit and check it out in June 2011. This latest, and possibly the last piece of the renovation not only highlights what a great job they’re doing for preservation of the motel, but for renovation all along Route 66! “Bringing back the neon” was
Opened in 1941, the El Cortez Hotel & Casino is one of Las Vegas’s oldest operating casinos — and one of its most authentic. In a city obsessed with reinvention, the El Cortez is a rare survivor, maintaining its vintage spirit while still feeling alive and relevant. Preservation That Matters In 2013, the El Cortez earned its place on the National Register of Historic Places, and it’s easy to see why. The building’s Spanish Colonial
When you step into the Neon Museum in Las Vegas — known as the “Neon Boneyard” — you step into a glowing archive of the city’s mid-century soul. This outdoor museum is home to more than 250 rescued neon signs, each telling the story of a bygone era when Vegas was all glitter, glamour, and grit. From Preservation Dream to Living History Efforts to save Las Vegas’s neon history began in the late 1980s, driven
Tucked away in downtown Las Vegas, The Mob Museum—formerly known as the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement—offers more than just a glimpse into criminal history. It’s also a powerful example of historic preservation done right. Housed in a striking 1933 neoclassical courthouse (originally a U.S. Post Office and Federal Courthouse), the building is a rare survivor from an era when clean lines, bold function, and civic pride defined public architecture. Its marble