Moulin Rouge Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moulin Rouge Hotel |
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Moulin Rouge sign, c. 2006
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| Location | Las Vegas, Nevada | ||||||||||||
| Address | 900 West Bonanza Road | ||||||||||||
| Opening date | May 24, 1955 | ||||||||||||
| Closing date | October 1955 | ||||||||||||
| No. of rooms | 116 | ||||||||||||
| Total gaming space | 8,925 sq ft (829.2 m2) | ||||||||||||
| Casino type | Land-Based | ||||||||||||
| Architect | Zick & Sharp | ||||||||||||
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The Moulin Rouge Hotel was a famous hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was special because it was the first hotel and casino in the United States that welcomed everyone, no matter their race. This was a big deal at a time when many places were still segregated. Many famous black entertainers, who couldn't stay at other hotels, loved to perform and stay at the Moulin Rouge. The hotel was named after the famous Moulin Rouge nightclub in Paris, France.
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Early History of the Moulin Rouge
The Moulin Rouge opened its doors on May 24, 1955. It cost about $3.5 million to build. This hotel was the first integrated hotel and casino in the United States. Before it opened, most casinos on the Las Vegas Strip were segregated. This meant black people were not allowed inside unless they were working or performing.
What Made it Special?
The hotel was built in West Las Vegas, where many black people lived. This area was bordered by Washington Avenue, Bonanza Road, H Street, and A Street. The Moulin Rouge was a very eye-catching place. It had 110 rooms, a beautiful showroom, a swimming pool, and a restaurant. There was also a dress shop and a bar made of shiny, expensive wood.
Many parts of the hotel reminded visitors of Paris, France:
- The Eiffel Tower was on the hotel's sign and even on its casino chips.
- A French Chef led the main restaurant, serving amazing food.
- Security guards wore uniforms like the French Foreign Legion. This added a touch of glamour, like in old French movies.
How it Started
At that time, Vester Heath saw a need for a hotel that welcomed everyone. He teamed up with other investors, including Louis Rubin and Alexander Bisno. The famous black boxing champion Joe Louis also helped build the hotel. They opened the Moulin Rouge at 900 West Bonanza Road. This spot was perfect, right between the mostly white Strip and the black west side.
Its Unique Design
The hotel complex had two buildings with a cool, modern style. They housed the hotel, casino, and a theater. The outside of the hotel had its name in fancy, curvy letters. There were also murals showing dancers and stylish cars. The famous sign was designed by Betty Willis. She also created the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign.
The Moulin Rouge in Paris was a big inspiration. When the casino opened, it had a show called "Tropi Cancan." This show was inspired by the French Cancan dance, which started at the original Moulin Rouge in Paris. The famous Afro-American star Josephine Baker also inspired the show. The walls inside the Las Vegas Moulin Rouge had paintings that looked like the art of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. These paintings showed black French cancan dancers.
A Place for Everyone
When the Moulin Rouge opened, it was fully integrated. This meant that employees, customers, and entertainers of all races were welcome. The hotel was so popular it even made the cover of Life magazine on June 20, 1955.
Many famous black singers and musicians performed there. These included Lena Horne, Sammy Davis Jr., Louis Armstrong, Sarah Vaughan, Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Belafonte, Pearl Bailey, and Count Basie. Many of these artists were not allowed to gamble or stay at hotels on the Strip. White performers also visited after their shows. Stars like George Burns, Judy Garland, Marlene Dietrich, and Frank Sinatra would come to gamble and perform. The hotel even added a late-night "Third Show" at 2:30 AM because so many people wanted to see the acts.
Closing and Its Legacy
In November 1955, the Moulin Rouge was closed by the Sheriff's deputies. By December 1955, the casino had to file for bankruptcy. To keep its gaming license, the Moulin Rouge sometimes opens for a few hours every two years. This is a rule in Nevada for closed casinos. For example, it opened on June 19, 2012, and again on May 29, 2018.
Its Role in Civil Rights
Even though it was open for a short time, the Moulin Rouge played a big part in the Civil Rights Movement in Las Vegas. For a while, the hotel was owned by Sarann Knight-Preddy. She was the first African American woman to hold a gaming license in Nevada. Many people who worked at or enjoyed the hotel became activists. The hotel also helped end segregation on the Strip.
In 1960, there was a plan for a protest march against racial discrimination on the Las Vegas Strip. To avoid this, a meeting was quickly set up. The meeting included hotel owners, city leaders, black community leaders, and the president of the NAACP, Dr. James McMillan. This important meeting happened on March 26 at the closed Moulin Rouge. They all agreed to end segregation at all casinos on the Strip.
Fires and Future Plans
In 1992, the Moulin Rouge building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It became a symbol of growing black civil rights and an important part of Las Vegas history.
For many years, the Moulin Rouge complex stayed closed. There were many plans to rebuild and reopen this historic place. But on May 29, 2003, a fire badly damaged the complex. Luckily, the front of the building with its famous name was saved. In 2004, a person was found responsible for starting the fire.
In January 2004, the Moulin Rouge was sold again for $12.1 million. The famous neon sign was turned back on. Plans for a $200 million renovation were announced, but they were never finished. The developers faced financial problems in 2008.
On May 6, 2009, a third fire in four years caused a lot of damage to the original hotel lobby. However, the remaining original wall with the sign was not touched. The sign had just been moved to the Neon Museum for safekeeping.
In June 2010, the city approved permits to tear down what was left of the buildings. The city was worried about how safe the structures were. Instead of tearing down the hotel wings that kept catching fire, the city removed the stone wall and facade that held the sign. The landmark tower, a symbol for residents, was also taken down because the city said it was unstable. As of February 2011, some parts of the old hotel still remained in the empty lot.
In 2017, Clark County was given the right to redevelop the site. But the county changed its mind after people living nearby were upset about the idea of a government building there. In July 2019, a local group called Moulin Rouge LLC had their plan accepted. They want to build a new hotel, casino, and convention center. Another group also has plans for a new casino and hotel.
