SEPTEMBER 2020

MID MOD MIX-UP DRIVING TOUR

Welcome to the Mid Mod Mix-Up Contactless Driving Tour!

Beep! Beep!This guide serves up seven distinct Vintage Vegas residential neighborhoods and one commercial corridor. Each neighborhood presents a unique chapter in the story of Las Vegas development history and style.

This program has been adapted for community health and safety. Thanks for your careful attention to community safety and program rules. Enjoy your journey!

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FORMALITIES Welcome to Nevada Preservation Foundation’s annual Home + History Festival! Departing from the usual bus tour, this year’s Mid Mod Mix-Up presents a contactless drive-yourself adventure, customized for your health and safety. Select neighborhoods showcase a variety of midcentury home styles and sizes. Some neighborhoods are pristine and well known, while others await resurgence. ALL neighborhoods present a unique chapter in the story of Las Vegas development history and style. HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE: BEFORE you start your journey, take time to carefully plan your tour route!

◆ Download or print this guidebook ▷ The content access link will be available only on Sat, Sept. 12, 2020. Users must print or download the guide for future reference.

◆ Neighborhoods can be toured in any order ◆ Pace yourself

▷ Some participants may wish to complete the tour in one day, while others may wish to experience the content over several afternoons.

◆ Use a map application. ▷ The maps provided in this guidebook will help for general reference. A routing application such as Google Maps or Waze is recommended for providing specific directions to each neighborhood.

SAFETY AND ETIQUETTE: DO:

◆ Put your safety and the safety of others first! ◆ Stay mindful and alert while on the road. ◆ Use your hazards and/or park when necessary ◆ Practice proper social distancing ◆ Wear a face covering ◆ Keep distance between others ◆ Respect the privacy of homeowners

DON’T:

◆ Text and Drive ◆ Idle behind the wheel ◆ Trespass onto private property ◆ Scare the neighbors ◆ No photography of private homes ◆ No loitering

By adhering to these safety and etiquette rules, you safeguard Nevada Preservation Foundation’s growing reputation as a welcome friend and neighbor within Vintage Vegas residential communities. Nevada Preservation Foundation is committed to the preservation of Nevada’s historic residential architecture amd works with local neighborhoods to obtain historic designations. Proceeds from this tour as well as other Home + History events help to fund historic preservation projects throughout the year. Thank you!

WEAR YOUR MASK

DON’T PHOTOGRAPH PRIVATE HOMES

ADMIRE, BUT DON’T CREEP!

DON’T TEXT AND DRIVE

HOME + HISTORY LAS VEGAS

USE A MAP APP

PRINT IT OUT

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Welcome to Fabulous Las VegasIn many ways Las Vegas stands alone. But, while unique, Las Vegas is surprisingly similar to other American cities. Generally speaking, where economic opportunity was created, residential developments and neighborhoods followed.

Today’s tour explores Las Vegas neighborhoods of the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Due to expanding economic opportunities– namely the defense industry and rapid resort developments on The Strip–Las Vegas experienced a population explosion during the midcentury years. Happily, locals know the rise of Vegas isn’t only captured in photographs and film…but also written in the built environment, as seen through the following fabulous neighborhoods!

1. PARADISE PALMS ESTATES Feature image: 1606 Pawnee Drive The origins of Paradise Palms begin here. 2. PARADISE PALMS Feature image: 1714 Chippewa Drive Exaggerated midcentury facades made famous by architects Palmer + Krisel. 3. FRANCISCO PARK: The Duplexes Feature image: 1418/1416 St. Louis Avenue Forever homes in the former south side.

4. HUNTRIDGE Feature image: 1411 Jessica Avenue Full with 40s flair. Las Vegas’ largest FHA neighborhood.

5. BEL AIR Feature image: 1924 Wengert Avenue A picture-perfect community of “Cinderella Ranches”

6. CHARLESTON: Another Fabulous Boulevard Feature image: Pavilion. 2020 E. Charlestown Blvd Midcentury landmarks on Nevada State Route 159 7. GLEN HEATHER Feature image: 2105 Bonnie Brae Avenue Traditional and contemporary ranches in an idyllic suburb west of the Strip. 8. BERKLEY SQUARE Feature image: 517 and 521 Wyatt Avenue Historic African-American neighborhood designed by Hollywood-favorite architect, Paul R. Williams

HOME + HISTORY LAS VEGAS

Neighborhoods can be toured in any order. For participants not yet familiar with modern architecture, we recommend beginning with Paradise Palms sections 1 and 2.

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PARADISE PALMS ESTATES “Luxury Homes without the Luxury Price Tag”

1606 Pawnee Drive, Las Vegas

YEARS BUILT: 1960-1961

DEVELOPER: Paradise Development CorpIrwin Molasky and Merv Adelson

ARCHITECT: Hugh Taylor, Las Vegas (Units 1 +2)

A quintessential start to a Mid Mod journey, Paradise Palms Estates marks the first tracts of greater Paradise Palms, now celebrated as Las Vegas’ largest midcentury neighborhood.

Paradise Palms was the first master-planned community in Southern Nevada. Mammoth in size, the neighborhood boasts over 1000 single family homes spanning over 720 acres. The earliest homes within Paradise Palms were first known as Paradise Palms Estates. The homes were designed by local architect, Hugh Taylor (Nevada Preservation Foundation owns and curates the Hugh Taylor Archives). Advertising for the early “Estates” homes emphasized luxury homes at affordable prices, starting at just $25,000. Taylor’s thoughtfully designed kitchens impressed with clever built-ins, breakfast bar seating, and a dishwasher among other modern appliances. Master bathrooms featured luxury sunken bathtubs.

Much like later Paradise Palms homes, Taylor’s “Estates” neighborhood featured bold Desert Modern facades, with funky asymmetric rooflines and heaps of decorative stone screen. 1606 Pawnee Drive was one of four model homes would-be residents toured before purchasing their very own home. The “Estates” section, Units 1 + 2, is located in the upper northwest corner of the greater neighborhood, just behind The Boulevard Mall.

DEFINING THE NEIGHBORHOOD: ◆ Original. First two tracts developed within greater Paradise Palms

◆ California inspired style, executed by local architect, Hugh Taylor

◆ Trend forward, post and beam contemporary style ranches

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EXPLORATION ZONE: Paradise Palms Estates

EXPLORATION ZONE: ◆ Paradise Palms Estates Model Homes on Pawnee Drive: 1606, 1620, 1634, 1648

◆ (Optional) For even more Hugh Taylor homes drive or walk: Arapaho Circle, Seminole Circle, Cayuga Parkway, Aztec Way, and Oneida Way.

The area is approximately one square mile.

LOOK FOR ORIGINAL FEATURES: ◆ Floorplans: Two primary floor plans (3 or 4 bdrm) mirrored and/or rotated to create variety. Ten separate elevation types.

◆ Rooflines: Varied types including low pitch gable roof, asymmetric low sloping shed roof, or flat roof

◆ Windows: Large picture windows, clerestory windows, and glass walls

◆ Façade: 8x8 concrete masonry, Masonite wood paneling, copious use of decorative screen block

◆ Interior: Open flexible living spaces, with defined public/private areas, extensive built-in cabinetry, the latest in kitchen appliances, luxury sunken bath tub

PICTURED LEFT: Architect Hugh Taylor. Hugh Taylor was a prolific Las Vegas architect having designed The Desert Inn, Sunrise Hospital, and hundreds of midcentury Las Vegas homes, both tract and custom.

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PARADISE PALMS “The Community Planned for Your Future”

1714 Chippewa Drive, Las Vegas

YEARS BUILT: 1961-1963

DEVELOPER: Paradise Development CorpIrwin Molasky and Merv Adelson

ARCHITECT: Palmer + Krisel, Palm Springs, CAUnits 3-11 (Units 3 and 5 shown in map)

Building on the momentum of Paradise Palms Estates, Molasky and Adelson pursued a grander vision as their neighborhood expanded.

Redefining Values: ◆ Greater emphasis on community-living: “The Community Planned for Your Future.” ◆ Impressive Amenities:

▷ Community parks, athletic fields, and picnic facilities. ▷ The Stardust Golf Club (now Las Vegas National Golf Course). ▷ The Boulevard Mall- Opened in 1968 as the state’s first indoor shopping mall.

◆ New, Prestigious Architects: ▷ Beginning with Unit 3, Molasky and Adelson hired Palm Springs architects Palmer + Krisel.

Palmer+ Krisel are credited for bringing sophisticated modern design to the mass-produced housing market. ◆ Chic and Short

▷ With the second wave of development, Paradise Palms Estates was formally renamed and abbreviated as Paradise Palms.

DEFINING THE NEIGHBORHOOD: ◆ Mid Mod MARVELOUS! ◆ Stunning Desert Modern homes representative of Dan Palmer and William Krisel’s signature style.

◆ Community amenities become increasingly important to neighborhood design

▷ Select lots feature scenic golf course views ◆ Vintage Vegas celebrity homes

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EXPLORATION ZONE: Paradise Palms Estates

EXPLORATION ZONE: ◆ Dakota Way This street featured eight distinct Palmer + Krisel models. All homes on this street were completed in 1961.

◆ (Optional) For even more Palmer + Krisel designs drive or walk to Chippewa Drive, Nahatan Way, Seneca Drive, Pawnee Drive, Pawnee Circle, Com-manche Circle, and Spencer Street.

The area is approximately one square mile.

LOOK FOR ORIGINAL FEATURES: ◆ Floorplans: Across Units 3-11, Palmer and Krisel offered a total of eight floor plans with twenty-two elevation types. The variety is impressive, although it appears not all types were built.

◆ Characteristic Mid Mod Features: Post and beam construction on slab, the blurring of indoor/outdoor space, heavy use of patterned block, mixed materials and varied textures

◆ Dramatic Rooflines: Rooflines include gable, butterfly, and even folded plate styles. 3380 Nahattan Way (Model 6B) presents an interesting flat roof with clipped ends.

All homes built in Chippewa Circle date to 1979 and were built by Ray Kanal Development. These homes are all done in Spanish or American Traditional style. Prior to construction, Chippewa Circle served as a community park.

Pawnee CirChippewa Cir

3328 Pawnee Drive is a prime example of what midcentury enthusiasts most love about Paradise Palms. This 1962 home is a Palmer + Krisel Model 7B, owned by comedian Rip Taylor, best known for his wild antics, toupee, and confetti. Paradise Palms was home to many Las Vegas Strip performers.

Following Paradise Homes, the neighborhood grew to include other builders and architects. Today, the Paradise Palms neighborhood boundaries are: Golden Arrow Drive to the north, Eastern Avenue to the east, Viking Road to the south, and Maryland Parkway to the west.

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FRANCISCO PARK: The Duplexes “Forever Houses on the Once-Called South Side ”

1418 and 1416 St. Louis Avenue, Las Vegas

YEARS BUILT: 1954

DEVELOPER: Pardee PhillipsGeorge Pardee Sr. and SonsGifford Phillips

ARCHITECT: Jones & Emmons, Los Angeles

Paradise Palms may be Vegas’ largest and most celebrated MCM neighborhood…But it wasn’t the first! Developers Pardee Phillips platted Francisco Park years ahead of Molasky and Adelson’s commercial development of Maryland Parkway. The original tract, featured here, includes approximately 150 homes spread over seven blocks.

Coinciding with rapid population growth in Las Vegas, Francisco Park began in 1954. As the population swelled, development pressed southward. Resting just north of Sahara Ave- then known as San Francisco Street, Francisco Park for a short time was Las Vegas’ trendiest south side suburb!

Lasting longer than its south side reputation, however, is the neighborhood’s durability and stylistic appeal. Dubbed “Forever Houses” by architects A. Q. Jones and Frederick Emmons, Francisco Park homes offered safe, affordable, and stylish homes for first-time buyers that were also easy to maintain.

While not fully master-planned, Francisco Park featured neighborhood amenities including a swimming pool and anchoring shopping mall. The pool no longer remains, but the shopping complex, formerly the 1955 Parkway Plaza (and later “Amall”) now houses Planet Fitness.

In addition to Pardee Phillips, architects Jones & Emmons also designed for famed midcentury real estate developer Joseph Eichler of Eichler Homes.

DEFINING THE NEIGHBORHOOD: ◆ Modern duplexes predate Paradise Palms ◆ Affordable homes for first time buyers ◆ Concrete block construction prized for its durability and ease of maintenance

◆ Now central, Francisco Park was once considered a “south side” suburb

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EXPLORATION ZONE: The Duplexes at Francisco Park

EXPLORATION ZONE: ◆ The former Parkway Plaza shopping center is located at 1221 E. Sahara Ave. The original tract of Francisco Park lies immediately behind this shopping mall.

▷ Streets include: Phillips Avenue, Exley Avenue, San Pedro Street, Mahoney Avenue, Pardee Place, 15th Street, and St. Louis Ave

◆ See the sign. The Planet Fitness tri-legged pylon sign though repainted, is a remnant dating to Parkway Plaza (later becoming “Amall” in 1961.)

LOOK FOR ORIGINAL FEATURES: ◆ Concrete block Forever Houses were prized for their durability:

▷ Fireproof ▷ Termite-proof ▷ Deterioration-proof

◆ Other defining features include: Five decorative protruding concrete blocks facing the street view

▷ Open carports with storage units ▷ Steel frame windows ▷ Tar and Gravel Rock Roofs (none exist today) ▷ Vertical siding beneath roofline ▷ Interior: Youngstown Kitchens

Mahoney Ave

◆ Suggested scenery: The homes along St. Louis are best maintained. Face west on St. Louis for a great view of the duplexes and the Stratosphere in the distance.

The area is approximately one square mile.

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HUNTRIDGE

1411 Jessica Avenue, Las Vegas

YEARS BUILT: 1942-1946

DEVELOPER: Realty Development CorporationAlso known as Huntridge Development CompanyPresident, Francis D. GriffinVice President, Norman WinstonSecretary, Thomas A. Oakey

BUILDER: McNeil Construction Company

Close to the city center, Huntridge is the largest and best known of Las Vegas 1940s residential developments. In stark contrast to 1950s-1960s Las Vegas neighborhoods, Huntridge is traditional and quaint with early ranches and minimal traditional homes.

As was typical for FHA neighborhoods, Realty Development Corporation’s marketing targeted veterans and the city’s new defense workers. Many first time Huntridge home owners were employees of Basic Magnesium in Henderson and the Las Vegas Bombing and Gunnery Range (now Nellis Air Force Base). The neighborhood boasted a nearby shopping center, the Huntridge Theater, a community park, and proximity to schools and transportation services.

While the nearby Huntridge Theater would later become Las Vegas’ first racially integrated cinema, it’s important to note that until the late 1940s African Americans were prohibited to buy homes within Huntridge. In 1948 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that race-based FHA “protective restrictions” were unconstitutional and unenforceable.

In contrast to modern sprawling ranches, minimal traditional homes offer compact, compartmentalized interiors.

DEFINING THE NEIGHBORHOOD: ◆ Largest of Las Vegas’ FHA neighborhoods, with close to 500 lots

◆ Neighborhood features consistent with defense era FHA developments:

▷ Curvilinear streets, generous but standardized lot and setbacks.

◆ Small, Minimal Traditional and early Ranch homes not larger than 900 square feet.

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EXPLORATION ZONE: Huntridge, Tract 3

EXPLORATION ZONE:Just south of Huntridge, Theater. Huntridge Tract 3. Streets include: Francis Avenue, Cottonwood Place, 15th Street, Jessica Avenue, Norman Avenue

NOTABLE HOMES: ◆ 1215 Francis - Porch updated; stone screen ◆ 1425 Francis - Nicely preserved ◆ 1411 Jessica - Featured Image ◆ 1439 Cottonwood - Shake roof

The area is approximately one square mile.

LOOK FOR ORIGINAL FEATURES: ◆ Boxy shaped homes ◆ Small floor plans, featuring 2 bed, 1 bath ◆ Hipped, gabled, or cross gabled roof ◆ Small porch-like entry, often supported by thin, cross patterned, wooden posts

◆ Open carport ◆ Multipane windows, decorative wooden shutters ◆ Curvilinear streets with the majority of homes neatly tucked away on interior streets

COMMON MODIFICATIONS: ◆ Enclosing the carport and/or entry porch ◆ Replacement of windows and/or siding materials

PICTURED LEFT: Newspaper ad describes Huntridge as “A Good Place To Live.” Of greater interest, however, is for whom? Huntridge was built during segregation-era Las Vegas. In this ad, “Protective Restrictions” refer to pre-1948, discriminatory practices aimed to prohibit homeownership to African Americans within white-only neighborhoods. Early FHA guidelines frowned upon mixed race neighborhoods.

The cost of a new Huntridge home ranged $4000-$5000, with low down payments.

December 1943, Las Vegas Evening Review Journal

Cottonwood Pl

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1924 Wengert Ave, Las Vegas

YEARS BUILT: Late 1950s(Neighborhood was announced in 1952)

BUILDER: Curtis Summers, Los Angeles, CA

ARCHITECT: William M. Bray, Los Angeles, CA

Curtis Summers’ fairytale-inspired Bel Air Estates was announced in 1952. The first homes on the 1900 block of Wengert were occupied by the late 1950s. The neighborhood’s defining characteristic is obvious; it’s marked by a collection of whimsical Cinderella ranch homes! Both the neighborhood name and signature Cinderella ranch originate from California. The Cinderella ranch was inspired by the popularity of Walt Disney’s 1950 Cinderella and, later, the opening of Disneyland in 1955. Home exteriors originally evoked the gingerbread style of a Swiss Chalet, with steep pitched shake wood roofs, diamond pane windows, and dovecotes in the gable. The angular eaves on the homes show that they were also decidedly of the midcentury style.

Within walking distance of Temple Beth Sholom, many Jewish Las Vegans resided in the neighborhood before the temple relocated. Through the 1970s Bel Air was home to Las Vegas lawyers, doctors and midlevel casino managers.

Despite being tract homes, Bel Air offered luxurious interiors. Kitchens included scroll-work cabinets, while high-end bathrooms were outfitted with step-down baths and expensive designer tile.

DEFINING THE NEIGHBORHOOD: ◆ Storybook Cinderella Ranches

▷ First and largest grouping of Cinderella Ranches within Las Vegas

◆ South of Charleston Blvd and Crestwood, West of Eastern Ave.

BEL AIR Storybook Homes

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EXPLORATION ZONE: Bel Air

EXPLORATION ZONE:Pockets of Cinderella Ranches as follows:

◆ 19th and 20th Block of Wengert ◆ 17th and 18th Block of Bracken ◆ 17th and 18th Block of Griffith ◆ 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th Block of Oakey

▷ Between Spencer to the west and Eastern to the East

LOOK FOR ORIGINAL FEATURES: ◆ Cute, storybook inspired Cinderella Ranch ◆ Characteristic exterior features include:

▷ Gable roofs, dramatic extended eaves• Some homes feature dual gables while others

are cross-gabled ▷ Decorative dovecotes ▷ Gingerbread, scrolled fascia ▷ Fanciful windows• Diamond or multipane ▷ Shake Roof

The area is approximately one square mile.

PICTURED LEFT: This 1961 Cinderella Ranch, at 1720 Bracken is particularly sweet! Nicely landscaped and nicely preserved.

While Bel Air presents the city’s first and greatest concentration of Cinderella Ranches, Cinderella Ranches can also be found within Beverly Green, Glen Heather, and McNeil.

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CHARLESTON That OTHER Fabulous Las Vegas Boulevard!

Need a rest stop? A chance to shop, eat, or stretch your legs? You’ll find just the spot along Charleston Boulevard. Twenty-two miles long, Charleston Boulevard is the commercial corridor that connects

Vintage Vegas neighborhoods east and west!

The Pavilion, 2022 E. Charleston BlvdThe historic Charleston Shopping district followed big brand shopping on Fremont, but predated commercial centers along Maryland Parkway. The Pavilion at 2022 E. Charleston was built in 1951 and still operates as an antiques market.

Huntridge Theatre, 1712 W. Charleston BlvdHuntridge Theatre was built in 1944 and originally operated as a cinema. Later it was used as a concert venue and performing arts center. Huntridge Theatre is significant in that it would become Las Vegas’ first racially integrated theater.

Thomas A. Oakey, of the greater Huntridge Development Corporation, also headed the Huntridge Theatre Company. In 1951, golden-era film actresses Irene Dunn and Loretta Young joined as partial owners.

The theater, designed by notable movie theater architect S. Charles Lee, is recognized both for its Streamline Moderne architecture and social history. Huntridge Theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

Frankie’s Tiki Room, 1712 W. Charleston BlvdTiki culture was alive and well in mid-century Vegas, but not at Frankie’s! The original Frankie’s dates to the mid-1950s and would have been a pretty standard cocktail lounge serving hospital staff following their shifts. In 2008, Frankie’s was transformed it into a tiki bar!

Holsum Lofts, 307 W. Charleston BlvdBuilt in 1954 for the famed Holsum Bakery, this historic property is actually comprised of 3 separate yet connected buildings and was completely renovated in 2004 when it re-opened as the Holsum Lofts, a live/work space for artists and designers. Its original clock & iconic signage were also restored.Take the opportunity to post a selfie

in this business district! See back page for details.

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GLEN HEATHER ESTATES Mid Mod O’er the Glen

2105 Bonnie Brae Avenue

YEARS BUILT: c. 1955-1963

DEVELOPERS: Lusk HomesRobert F. Lusk, Jr. of Tucson, AZWhaleyCrestmont HomesHarold ThompsonDon Langston, Storybook Homes

Welcome to Glen Heather Estates! Glen Heather is a small community of roughly 200 homes, divided into four tracts.

While other Las Vegas neighborhoods offered affordability, Glen Heather began as an upper-middle class neighborhood. Despite desert heat, street names herald from the Scottish hillside. Streets are curvilinear and front yards are generous, many with mature trees and landscaping.

Even with a small footprint, Glen Heather boasts a variety of styles by several developer/builders. Among the most eye-catching are contemporary ranches by Lusk Homes. Based in Arizona, the Lusk Corporation was founded in 1950. Early Lusk Home projects expressed innovative Modern design using quality finishes and impressive architectural detail.

Socially speaking, early residents of Glen Heather were of professional class: bankers, merchants, musicians, and entertainers.

DEFINING THE NEIGHBORHOOD: ◆ Eye-catching modern homes designed for the midcentury upper-middleclass

◆ Cozy, curvilinear streets, with romantic Gaelic-in-spired names

◆ Contemporary ranches, many with large glass front walls and weeping mortar

◆ Generous front yards, mature landscaping

It is the nature of things that when a man moves up in the world, he and his family reflect his success in many directions. It shows in the car he drives, the circle he frequents, the tailoring of his clothes, and most definitely in the size and site of his home. — From 1955 Lusk Homes Marketing Brochure

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EXPLORATION ZONE: Bonnie Brae

EXPLORATION ZONE:Access Bryn Mawr Ave or Birch Street easily from Oakey Blvd. From there, explore Bonnie Brae Avenue and Kirkland Avenue.

NOTABLE HOMES: ◆ 2213 Oakey Blvd - Cinderella Ranch ◆ 1705 Birch St - Stone Screen Walls ◆ 2105 Bonnie Brae - Featured Image + 2019 Vintage Vegas Home Tour

◆ 2204 Bonnie Brae - Multi-tiered masonry planter

LOOK FOR ORIGINAL FEATURES:

◆ Expansive, front-facing glass walls ◆ Clerestory Windows ◆ Weeping mortar ◆ Built-in masonry planters ◆ Carports ◆ Long, low and sprawling floor plans ◆ Mixed use of materials (pairing brick with stone and/or wood siding)

The area is approximately one square mile.

PICTURED RIGHT: Lovingly restored home on 1709 Birch St. Built 1955.

Glen Heather retains a number of its original carports. More than a mere shelter, carports provided a frame, or viewing “stage” for fabulous midcentury vehicles. In this way the family car and carport were integral to the home exterior.

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BERKLEY SQUARE Midcentury Neighborhood on the Historic Westside

517 and 521 Wyatt Ave, Las Vegas

YEARS BUILT: c. 1954

ARCHITECT: Paul Revere Williams, Los Angeles

Berkley Square Is the first African American built subdivision in Nevada. It was designed by a Black architect for the Black community living in Las Vegas. It was built during a time when segregation was endemic to Las Vegas. Blacks were required to remain in the Westside for their education, commerce, and housing. Berkley Square provided affordable, quality housing in an area that had experienced significant neglect. Still today, it is an important piece of the Historic Westside.

Berkley Square consists of 148 homes situated on 22 acres of land in the Historic Westside. It was part of the post-World War II construction boom that swept the nation. The neighborhood is named for Thomas L. Berkeley, who served as the neighborhood’s primary financier.

Many prominent families lived in Berkley Square. There were doctors, dentists, casino workers, and many others that made this neighborhood their home. To be clear, though, the Historic Westside was not necessarily the choice of many of these families. gAs previously noted in this guide, African Americans were denied access to other Las Vegas postwar communities such as Huntridge, Biltmore, or Mayfair.

Despite being formally recorded in 1954, Berkley Square home designs actually date to the late 40s. As such, these ranches share similarities with earlier Minimal Traditional homes. The footprints are boxy as opposed to rambling, and the squarish, multipaned windows are another indicator of earlier traditions. All Berkeley Square houses originally had carports.

DEFINING THE NEIGHBORHOOD: ◆ Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009

◆ Internationally acclaimed architect, Paul R. Williams

◆ Example of African American housing in segregation-era Las Vegas

◆ Ranch homes with Minimal Traditional details

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EXPLORATION ZONE: Berkley Square

EXPLORATION ZONE:D Street, Leonard Ave, Freeman Ave, North G Street, Wyatt Ave, and Byrnes Ave.

NOTABLE HOMES: ◆ 1650 G Street - Example: Model B ◆ 1654 G Street - Example: Model A ◆ 605 Wyatt Ave- Dr. Charles West Residence (Below)

LOOK FOR ORIGINAL FEATURES: ◆ Floorplans: Two primary floor plans

▷ Model A: Hipped Roof. Leans toward Ranch Style. Slightly horizontal windows, asymmetrical, ribbon windows to right of door emphasize the long & low of the building ▷ Model B: Gable Roof. Leans toward Minimal Traditional: slightly more vertical windows, still asymmetrical door placement, no ribbon windows The area is approximately one square mile.

PICTURED LEFT: Architect Paul R. Williams. In California, Williams designed thousands of projects in Hollywood and Palm Springs. In Las Vegas, Williams was the architect of Berkeley Square, the La Concha Motel Lobby (now at The Neon Museum), the Guardian Angel Cathedral on Las Vegas Boulevard, and nearly 500 housing units for employees of Basic Magnesium.

In 1923 Williams became the first African American to become a member of the American Institute of Architects. In 2017 AIA posthumously awarded Williams with a Gold Medal award, the highest annual honor.

605 Wyatt Ave. Former home of Dr. Charles West, the first African American doctor in Las Vegas. He was well known not only for his medical service to the community but also his work as a civil rights leader.

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Home + History Las Vegas (HHLV) celebrates Nevada’s history by fostering an appreciation of historic and important architecture within the Las Vegas Valley. By creating an engaging series of events, HHLV helps to promote, educate and advocate for the preservation of Las Vegas’ architectural resources, as well as breeds renewed thought to preservation, urban sustainability and community development here in Southern Nevada.

NPF’s mission is to preserve and revitalize historic buildings and places in Nevada, and to cultivate a presence around cultural heritage and tourism. Retention and restoration of our built environment fosters not only a sense of place but also helps to build an engaged community for residents and visitors alike. We know that preserving our buildings is as much about our collective history as it is about strengthening neighborhoods, creating jobs, diversifying tourism, and boosting conservation.

330 W. Washington Ave, Suite 106, Las Vegas, NV 89106info@NevadaPreservation.org • NevadaPreservation.org

PRESENTING SPONSORS

You’ve reached the finish line!You’re now a Mid Mod Mix-Up Motoring Master! Take a #vegascool selfie outside one of the Mid Mod businesses on page 14 and post it with the hashtags #hhlv #midmodmixup. Bonus points for holding up this brochure!

Thank you for attending Home + History Las Vegas! Your tour purchase supports historic preservation projects throughout Nevada.

Look for more Home + History events in 2021 and check out our monthly programs at:nevadapreservation.org.

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