History At Home - Nevada Preservation Foundation

History at Home launched on April 17 - 19, but will remain live for all to enjoy!

Join the Nevada Preservation Foundation for a collection of virtual events celebrating the rich heritage of Nevada. We have included tours of historic places, a walk through the curation of the Hugh Taylor Archive including two new exhibits, talks from well-known architectural historians. The original weekend we also hosted a movie viewing party with architectural commentary with Netflix Party.

And, of course, all of this is available from the comfort and safety of your home!

We do hope you enjoy History at Home. And please keep an eye out for our annual Home + History Las Vegas event, now rescheduled for September 11 - 13.

We would also like to give Peter Moruzzi, Chris Nichols, and Alan Hess a sincere thank you for generously donating their time to History at Home.

History at Home Events

Starting Friday, April 17

At Home with Hugh

The Nevada Preservation Foundation was made the steward of the more than 5,000 architectural drawings of residential and commercial buildings that were designed starting in 1946 by renowned mid-century architect Hugh E. Taylor, architect of the Desert Inn Casino.

Join NPF Architectural Historian Mariana Ruiz for a short talk on all the cool things we have done so far in curating the collection. You can also be one of the first visitors to view our new online exhibits showcasing a sample of these mid-century architectural treasures.

To view this program click here.

Supporting resources for this program.

Breeze Block Virtual Tour

Stone screen, breeze block. . . this decorative concrete is known by several names and a myriad of patters! A hallmark of modernity, stone screen's popularity coincides with the great Las Vegas boom of the late 50s and early 60s. As a result, stone screen is easy to find in residential and commercial neighborhoods alike. How many patterns can you find? Come along with us on the virtual hunt!

This tour is based on the Ron + Barbara Marshall book "Concrete Block: The Power of the Pattern which provides names and makers for several common Las Vegas stone blocks.

Click here for the Screen Block Activity Guide.

To take this virtual tour click here.

Starting Saturday, April 18

It's Going to be a Star-Studded Saturday with Peter Moruzzi, Chris Nichols, and Alan Hess!

Vegas Modern with Peter Moruzzi

Join Mid-Century celebrity author Peter Moruzzi for a fabulous preview video of his full-length slide presentation titled "Vegas Modern." Featured are highlights of modernist Las Vegas from the 40s-70s all taken from his latest book Greetings from Las Vegas.

Click here to purchase Greetings from Las Vegas.

To view this program click here.

Fifty Years of Architectural History with Chris Nichols

Join Architectural Historian Chris Nichols as he discusses some of the most important mid-century books that have made an impact on our architectural landscape in the past 50 years.

To view Part 1 of this program click here.

To view Part 2 of this program click here.

Las Vegas' Contributions to American Architecture with Alan Hess

From Fremont Street to The Strip, Las Vegas’ architecture has long fascinated, mesmerized, and confounded conventional critics. It has always pushed the boundaries, and so it has always been controversial and misunderstood.

Alan Hess, author of the architectural history “Viva Las Vegas” explores the ideas, architects, and culture that created these unique buildings, and explains why they are some of the most original and influential designs in architectural history — and why remaining examples should be preserved.

To view this program click here.

Starting Sunday, April 19

Walking the Path to Fabulous Virtual Tour

Sure, there were money, mobsters, and showgirls… but ever wonder what happened BEFORE Las Vegas came to be so “Fabulous?”

This free virtual tour examines the humbler- and lesser-known- landmarks of Las Vegas. Many of these hidden-in-plain-sight buildings pre-date our famous Strip. Take a trip in time with us. Learn about early industries and the colorful characters who shaped "Old Vegas."

To take this virtual tour click here.

Gold + The Railroad: Elko's Wild West Virtual Tour

Can’t make it to Elko? ….We’ll bring Elko to you! Join us for a virtual tour of Downtown Historic Elko. This tour explores the best of the west in six 360-degree Google Earth scenes near Elko’s “Old Business Route.”

Learn about early casinos, gold, the railroad, and Elko’s unique Basque shepherding heritage.

To take this virtual tour click here.

Movie Watch Party: Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Sunday, 6pm PST

Nevada Preservation is hosting a watch party featuring Ferris Bueller's Day Off and our very own executive director, Heidi Swank. Join us for an evening of movie fun, replete with architectural commentary, 1980s styles, not to mention all that BIG HAIR!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Bueller Watch Party and Bueller Bingo! We hope you all had a blast! Now stay safe and well! We'll see you in the future!