To Stephen, for moving us to this crazy city and for your unwavering support.
Bibliographical information of the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographical data are available on the internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de.
Design: Anja Sauerland, based on a design by Lübbeke | Naumann | Thoben
Maps: altancicek.design, www.altancicek.de
Editor: Tania Taylor
Printing and binding: sourc-e GmbH
Printed in Europe 2025
ISBN 978-3-7408-2467-9
First edition
Guidebooks for Locals & Experienced Travelers
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Foreword
When I first moved to Las Vegas, I viewed it like many people: as a fun getaway to have great food, get a little crazy, and forget your daily life. But what about living there? A city built on superficial entertainment seemed an awful place to live. I pictured my 22-yearold self on my first, and only, visit: walking down the Strip with loud music, car horns blaring, and drunken antics at all hours of the day and night.
When the opportunity came to seek out 111 places in Las Vegas, I thought maybe I would be able to find a few cool things beyond the typical top-10 list and learn the history of my new home. Little did I know that I would gain an appreciation for the city and its people in a way I never knew I could.The tough, extravagant external façade of Las Vegas is just that: a façade. Beneath is a warm and caring city, dedicated to enriching those who live here. Each person I have met has shown an overwhelming pride in their city, well beyond anything I could have imagined.
Las Vegas is a city unlike any other in the world, with industry, gaming,and historic preservation almost on equal footing.Where else can you tour atomic testing sites in the morning, explore mid-century neighborhoods in the afternoon, and catch an awe-inspiring circus act or magic show by night? Las Vegas is deeper than the largerthan-life reputation it has. And while I’ve had the opportunity to live in many amazing places in the world, Las Vegas is one that will always stick with me.
It’s a city shaped by dreamers, builders, and performers – from the neon artists in the Arts District to the family-run restaurants tucked into unassuming strip malls. There’s a rhythm to life here that’s as vibrant as it is resilient. I hope this book helps you see beyond the surface, and that, like me, you come to admire the city’s quirky charm, rich history, and the community that thrives just beneath the glitter.
Airmail Navigation Arrows
Remnants of the Transcontinental Airway System
Domestic US Air Mail was established on May 15, 1918, ushering in a new age of communication.During this era in aviation,pilots relied on geographical markers as radio navigation wouldn’t become reliable until the ’30s or ’40s. To make night flying possible, a series of navigational beacons were constructed across the country, spaced about 25 miles apart, to act as markers for the transcontinental flights. The beacons had large 50- to 70-foot concrete arrows on the ground with accompanying lights to illuminate them.The first night airmail flights occurred in July 1924, eliminating the need to transfer mail to rail cars at night, and drastically decreasing delivery time for coast-to-coast airmail. By 1933,over 1,500 beacons were constructed,covering over 18,000 miles.
While the main Transcontinental system went from New York City to San Francisco, a southern branch ran from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles,crossing over Las Vegas,much like the railroad not long before. These beacons didn’t last long, however. Many were removed during WWII to prevent aiding enemy bombers.But many arrows still remain today, becoming a draw for history and aviation enthusiasts across the country. Las Vegas and the surrounding desert region are lucky to have a few intact arrows from an often forgotten piece of history.
While a handful are scattered around the valley, one of the most accessible is in the town of Borax, just west of Jean along Las Vegas Boulevard.This was part of CAM (Contract Air Mail) Route 04,which ran from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles.The tower no longer remains, having been removed for scrap metal, but the arrow, a large concrete slab on the ground, is still in good shape despite baking in the sun for decades.This large arrow, smack in the middle of the desert, makes you appreciate the vastness of the country and how difficult it would have been to traverse over 100 years ago.
Address Las Vegas Boulevard South, Borax, NV 89019 | Getting there By car, take I-15 S to exit 12 at Jean. Take Las Vegas Boulevard South after 3.5 miles to the arrow on the lefthand side | Hours Unrestricted | Tip For a more exciting aviation experience, head to Sky Combat Ace to fly in a real stunt plane with a USAF veteran fighter pilot (2634 Airport Drive #106, North Las Vegas).
Art-o-mat Vending Machines
Discover miniature art in vintage vending machines
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas’ one-time tagline, “Just the Right Amount of Wrong,” is unmistakable in the dimly lit and dark-hued lobby, where digital art, displayed on massive pillars, shows silhouettes of bodies moving seductively. But this isn’t the only art showcased on the property. The Cosmopolitan has hundreds of contemporary artworks by both established and emerging artists from all over the world. Designed to inspire discovery, the collection includes large-scale paintings, photography, mixed-media works, sculptures, murals, and more.
Possibly the quirkiest pieces are the Art-o-mat vending machines. Created by Clark Whittington, these repurposed antique cigarette vending machines dispense art instead of cigarettes. The first Art-omat machine was featured in an art show in 1997 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and sold black-and-white Polaroids. His inspiration came from seeing a friend’s need for a snack after hearing someone open a vending-machine snack.
Today, the mid-century modern-styled Art-o-mat machines can be found in museums and businesses around the US, but the largest collection is at The Cosmopolitan with a total of nine machines, with six in public areas such as the lobby, shopping areas, and casino floor. Whittington’s personal favorite is the machine near The Chandelier because of its silver color set against the impressive, elegant chandelier.
Whittington’s goal for the Art-o-mat machines is to provide easier access to art and create a connection between artists and buyers. The machines’ unique appearance and strategic locations attract visitors who may otherwise never purchase art. Visitors can buy pieces like sketches, watercolor paintings, photographs, and small sculptures in specially designed boxes.The art is regularly swapped out, allowing for an endless source of small art for collectors and art lovers.
Address 3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89109, +1 (702) 698-7000, www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com | Getting there Deuce on The Strip Bus to Bellagio/ Cosmopolitan (Southbound) or Planet Hollywood (Northbound) | Hours Unrestricted | Tip Browse The Cosmo’s art exhibits, such as The Golden Age of Glam, a collection of vintage photos promoting Las Vegas and its iconic sites, and performers like Tempest Storm, Liberace, Sinatra, and Elvis. Found on the Level 2 walkway between the Chelsea and Boulevard Towers.
Center for Brain Health
A deconstructivist building housing cognitive care
The Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, locally referred to as the Brain Health Building, is an unusual and eye-catching structure found on the corner of Grand Central Parkway and Bonneville Avenue in Symphony Park. It is also the home of the Keep Memory Alive foundation, the local nonprofit started by Lou Ruvo’s son, Larry Ruvo. The clinic provides world-class Cleveland Clinic care to patients with Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s diseases, multiple sclerosis, multiple system atrophy, and dementia.
Opened in 2010 after three years of construction, its distinctive deconstructionist design sits in stark contrast to the more utilitarian buildings around it.The structure consists of a swirling exterior canopy covering the more traditional orthogonal building. Both the canopy and the interior buildings have a welcoming, lightfilled atmosphere. There are over 199 windows, each one unique, and over 18,000 stainless-steel shingles in specific, distinctive measurements.
With a total area of 60,000 square feet, the center provides facilities for all aspects of patient care, research, and education, including an outpatient clinic, neuro-imaging suites, a reference library, community space, multi-purpose event center, a catering kitchen (designed by chef Wolfgang Puck), and office space for Keep Memory Alive.
The center was designed by acclaimed architect Frank Gehry, whose unconventional style can also be seen in the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, the Dancing House in Prague, Czech Republic, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.“The building symbolizes hope,”he said.“Walking into this building took my breath away. I can’t remember the last time that happened… somewhere over the rainbow.”
Address 888 W Bonneville Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89106, +1 (702) 232-4547, www.keepmemoryalive.org, delucir@ccf.org | Getting there Deuce on the Strip Bus to Bonneville Transit Center | Hours Unrestricted from the outside, tours by appointment | Tip For other uncommon building design, check out the Veer Towers, residential highrises with a unique tilting design (3726 & 3722 Las Vegas Boulevard South, www.veertowers.org).
Community Healing Garden
A serene spot for hope and reflection
What was once a vacant lot on the corner of Casino Center and Charleston is now an oasis dedicated to healing, remembrance, and reflection. Jay Pleggenkuhle and Daniel Perez of Stonerose Landscapes sketched out an idea for a memorial garden on a napkin just hours after 58 people were killed and more than 500 others injured by a gunman at the Route 91 Harvest Festival near the Mandalay Bay Casino on October 1, 2017. The memorial opened just five days later.
The project was completed by hundreds of volunteers – UNLV students, local residents, and businesses – using only donated supplies, including plants, wood, and even an irrigation system. From people planting trees and laying bricks to donating pizza and coffee for volunteers, the citizens of Las Vegas came together in the aftermath of the worst tragedy the city has ever seen. “This is the best of the city of Las Vegas,” City Attorney Brad Jerbic told KCLV. “This is about as organic and genuine as it comes.”
The garden includes a Wall of Remembrance, a grove of trees, shrubs, flowers, walkways of pavers, and benches.The original Remembrance Wall was made of wood pallets covered in handwritten names and dedications. It has since been replaced with a permanent wall made of steel to ensure it will withstand the hot desert sun.
The oak tree in the middle of the garden, donated by magician duo Siegfried and Roy, is known as the Tree of Life. The tree is in a heart-shaped planter adorned with tiles made by the victims’ families, survivors, and community members. A winding path leads from the entrance to this central tree, with exactly 58 trees lining the path, each dedicated to a victim who passed. Open all year, the beautiful garden is a place of refuge, a place to remember, a place to reflect, and a lasting symbol of a community coming together after heartbreak.
Address 1015 S Casino Center Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89101, +1 (702) 997-3350, www.lasvegasnevada.gov/residents/parks-facilities/community-healing-garden | Getting there Deuce on the Strip Bus to Casino Center at Coolidge | Hours Daily 7am–11pm | Tip Visit Siegfried and Roy Park for walking paths and playgrounds not far from the Strip (5525 S Maryland Parkway).
