Black History Month in Vegas is a hotspot for celebrating Black Resistance in 2023.
The story of Las Vegas , Nevada is incomplete without the account of Black Americans in Las Vegas . From boundary - bust star like Lena Horne and Sammy Davis Jr. to history - making hotels like the Moulin Rouge , the history of Las Vegas is deeply interlace with the history of Black American sprightliness and the Civil Rights Movement . The city ’s Historic Westside was once known as the “ Black Las Vegas Strip , ” a Black business district and locality that shape due to separatism and then expand with its own stage business and robust societal and cultural life that cater to Black patronage . When the Moulin Rouge opened as Sin City ’s first desegregated hotel , it did so in West Las Vegas .
presently , plans are underway to get anAfrican American Museum and Cultural Arts Centerin the Historic Westside to respect and fete the deep roots of African American history in Las Vegas and the legacy of Black business loss leader , creative person , architects , and activists here . But there are many other cultural institutions in Las Vegas where you’re able to learn more about local Black account . Here are some event , exhibitions , and educational serial happening around town this Black History Month .
Learn about the legacy of Black architect Paul Revere Williams and more highlights of Black history in Las Vegas at the Neon Museum
OngoingThe Neon Museum , Downtown Las VegasThe Neon Museum is a hotbed of Black history in Las Vegas from the minute you arrive . The Neon Museum ’s Visitor ’s Center is locate within the former lobby construction of the La Concha Motel , an iconic shell - shaped construction designed by open up African American architect Paul Revere Williams . He also design Berkley Square , a housing development in West Las Vegas listed on the National Register of Historic Places .
Williams is also feature on the Neon Museum ’s Las Vegas Luminaires Mural , a 101 - pes - farseeing mural along the museum ’s North Gallery wall that features historic figures , performing artist , and leadership like Delcenia Boyd Jones , the first chorine professional dancer to wreak at the Moulin Rouge , and Sammy Davis Jr. ,Las Vegas performer and extremity of the famed Pat Rack . On Saturday , February 18 , at 10 am , the museum ’s monthly STEAM Saturday hands - on family educational series will lionize Williams ’s life and work .
Beyond the limelight on the piece of work of Paul Revere Williams , the Neon Museum is home to many other artifacts of particular significance to the chronicle of Black Americans in Las Vegas . The Moulin Rouge Hotel was the first desegregated hotel in Las Vegas and one of the country ’s first integrate hotel . It was also the site of a pivotal civil rights meeting in 1960 that grade the root of the ending of segregation in hotels and gambling casino . It was a national sensation when it opened — Moulin Rouge dancers even graced the covering ofLifemagazine — and became a catalyst for polite right reform in Las Vegas , a place where many multitude who would become prominent role player in the civil rights movement first link .
Black History Month Festival|Springs Preserve
A later owner of the hotel , Sarann Knight - Preddy , was the first ( and only ) African American woman in Nevada to have a gaming permission . While the building itself is no longer standing , the fully restore Moulin Rougesign locate in the museum ’s Neon Boneyard continue to distinguish its story night after nighttime , some 70 old age subsequently .
Other signs found in the Neon Museum with special import to sinister history in Las Vegas let in :
The Riviera Hotel : African American Isaac Merrit Singer , actor , and activist Harry Belafonte headlined the Versailles Room ; he became deeply tortuous in the polite rights front and was one of Dr. Martin Luther King , Jr. ’s secretive confidants .
Stardust-Riviera sign at The Neon Museum|The Neon Museum/Flickr
The Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino : Dancer , actress , and singer Lena Horne took her lounge human activity to Las Vegas in 1947 , perform at the Flamingo . She is wide credit with integrate the dancers in the Flamingo chorus line . She was also the first Black performer to get the SAG Lifetime Achievement Award and a high-pitched - visibility civic rights militant .
Fitzgerald ’s Casino and Hotel : Owner Don Barden was one of the few Black casino owners in the country .
Silver Slipper Casino : This gambling casino was the site of a 1950s NAACP programme for Black History Month when it was almost insufferable for a Black event to rent a room inside a Strip or Downtown casino .
Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas
Caesars Palace : The hotel was the home of D.D. Cotton , the first Black cocktail waitress on the Las Vegas Strip .
price : STEAM Saturdays are $ 5 for children ages 7 and old and adults ; feeler registration is requiredhere . Tickets to the Neon Museum pop at $ 20 for grownup ( $ 16 for Nevada residents ) .
Take a look at “Through the Lens: Honoring the Legacy of Paul Revere Williams in Nevada”
Friday , February 17 , 2023 from 4 to 6 pmNevada State Museum , Springs PreserveDuring this symposium , historians , curators , artist , and scholar will discuss the architectural legacy of Paul Revere Williams in Nevada . Guest speakers include Brooke Hodge , main curator and former Director of Architecture and Design at the Palm Springs Art Museum ; Nevada historians Dr. Alicia Barber and Claytee White ; and modern-day photographer Janna Ireland , whose photography work documenting the architectural contributions of Williams iscurrently in expo at the Nevada State Museum through May30 , 2023.Cost : Free ; advanced registration is requiredhere
Enjoy a Paul R. Williams Berkley Square Tourhosted by the Nevada Preservation Foundation
Saturday , February 18 , 2023 at 11:30 amBerkeley Square , West Las VegasThe Nevada Preservation Foundationwill lead a walk tour celebrating Williams ’s residential architecture featured in Berkley Square , the first living accommodations development on Las Vegas ’s Historic Westside . Cost : $ 5 ; advance registration is requiredhere .
Take part in the Black History Month Celebrations at Nevada State College
OngoingNevada State College , HendersonNevada State will lionise Black History Month with motion picture , panel word , talks , and ethnic event curb on campus throughout February . The Black History Month Kick - Off Event is on Tuesday , February 7 . Other events admit the Early Black Films Festival on February 20 and Gospel Fest on February 23 . you may find a terminated list of eventshere . Also on show at Nevada State College is the graphic - essay initiation “ Obsidian & Neon : Building Black Life and Identity in Las Vegas , ” an one-year travel exposition of Black leaders in culture , occupation , government , and biotic community outreach . This exposition will be on display through June 30 , 2023.Cost : All consequence are free and unresolved to the scholarly person consistency , faculty , and public .
Check out the new murals on the city’s Historic Westside
OngoingWest Las VegasThe City of Las Vegas has revealed the first three murals of itsHistoric Westside Mural Project , part of the city ’s significant investing efforts in this historical neighborhood that was once known as the “ Black Las Vegas Strip . ” lead by multidisciplinary creative person Chase McCurdy , artists landry Randriamandroso , X Darvi , and Michelle Graves contribute their work on the exterior rampart of theWest Las Vegas Arts Center , located at 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd . This mural undertaking will continue at the Obodo Collective . toll : spare
Go shopping at the BLACK OWNED market at Fergusons Downtown
Saturday , February 25 , 2023 from 11 am to 4 pmFergusons Downtown , Downtown Las VegasBLACK OWNED is a market curated byTofu tee , a Black youth - owned business located in Fergusons Downtown . This market provides a safe infinite for local Black - own commercial enterprise to flower and link up with one another . Guests are receive to shop Black while enjoying activity , photo opportunity , food from local vendors , and more . Cost : Free
Partake in Cultural events at the Winchester Dondero Cultural Center
OngoingWinchester Dondero Cultural Center , WinchesterVisit the Winchester Dondero Cultural Center , a Clark County Parks & Recreation sectionalisation , for one of their Black History Month solemnisation . First , on Saturday , February 18 , Drum Master Harold Akyeampong will lead an open drum circle from 5 to 6 pm . Then , on Saturday , February 25 , at 2 atomic number 61 , the Eddy Sarabia Quintet will do a variety of swing , mambo , and modernistic wind medicine . Cost : Participation in the overt metal drum circle is free ; tickets to the Eddy Sarabia Quintet are $ 10
Hear the work of a history-making Black composer played by the Las Vegas Philharmonic
Saturday , February 11 , 2023 at 7:30 pmThe Smith Center , Downtown Las VegasDuring Black History Month , the Las Vegas Philharmonic will do the comedic Symphony No . 2 by Joseph Bologne , Chevalier De Saint - Georges , a Creole composer , concertmaster , and conductor who was a contemporary and friend of Mozart ’s . He is widely known as the first European instrumentalist and composer of African line of descent to receive widespread vital acclaim ; a biopic calledChevalierwill be released by Searchlight Pictures later on this class with Kelvin Harrison Jr. in the title role . Cost : ticket start at $ 29
Get informed at Black Weekend 2023: Kemet in the Desert Lecture Series 10th Anniversary Celebration
Friday , February 17 and Saturday , February 18 , 2023 from 6:30 to 9:15 pmWest Las Vegas LibraryThe 10th yearly “ Kemet In The Desert ” ( KITD ) Black Weekend Lecture Series will be held at the Clark County West Las Vegas Library Theatre , where it all began . This year ’s series will let in talks from investigator Sister Merira Kwesi , who take distaff role who have play an integral function in the story of Egypt , Ethiopia , Ghana , and the Ivory Coast ; and Dr. Umar Johnson , a clinical psychologist , writer , pedagog , and descendent of the great abolitionist Frederick Douglass . Each case will begin with a malarky set by the Kemet In The Desert Orchestra under the direction of Mr. Woody Woods . Cost : devoid
Enjoy the glitz and glamor of the 5th Annual African Fashion Showcase
Sunday , February 26 , 2023 from 1 to 4:30 pmParis Las VegasThe Las Vegas Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women , Inc. presents the 5th yearly African Fashion Showcase on Sunday , February 26 , inside the Champagne Ballroom at Paris Las Vegas . The theme is “ celebrate the African American Image Through Education , History , and Fashion . ” The outcome will feature way dress shop proprietor , African garb couturier , and the latest trend in “ glitz and glamor . ” Attendees are boost to fall dressed in their finest African dress , and swag will be award to the well - dressed male and distaff . monetary value : ticket start at $ 75
Celebrate at the 14th annual Black History Month Festival at Springs Preserve
Saturday , February 18 , 2023 from 10 am to 4 pmSprings preserves , Las VegasThe fourteenth yearly Black History Month Festival returns to the Springs keep up with a family - friendly celebration of Black history and culture in Southern Nevada , including educational action , live music and dance performances , arts and crafts , historical photo exhibits , and veritable African American cuisine . This class ’s report is “ Black Resistance . ”Cost : grown ticket come out at $ 8 ; booking are need in advancehere
Listen to Black Swan Radio Hour presented by Vegas City Opera
Saturday , February 18 , 2023 3 to 4 pmWest Charleston LibraryThe Vegas City Opera will lionise the first Black - owned - and - manoeuvre record book company and America ’s first historic classical record book of Black Hellenic artists through musical performances done “ Radio Hour”-style . Cost : loose
Attend the Reception for “Reverence: Celebrating Black Cultural Heritage”
Friday , February 24 , 2023 from 6 to 8 pmRotunda Gallery at the Government Center , Downtown Las VegasClark County Public Arts has installed an exhibition calledReverence : Celebrating Black Cultural Heritageat the Government Center Rotunda Gallery , which will be on display until March 2 . The catered reception will be held at the Rotunda on February 24 from 6 to 8 postmortem with live music . Cost : Free
Las Vegas Philharmonic
Black History Month Festival|Springs Preserve
