If you’re a history buff or simply curious about the history of Las Vegas, get yourself downtown and check out El Cortez. The property is teeming with cool ways to experience the past, beginning with the newly installed exhibit From Gambling Town to Resort Destination: The Epic Rise of Las Vegas.
Guests can take the self-guided tour, curated by The Mob Museum, through one of the hotel’s hallways which is lined on both sides with historic photographs and accompanying text that tells the story of El Cortez as well as the city of Las Vegas and the famous, and infamous, people that helped shape it.
After your tour, look for the stairwell with a sign that says “Vintage Hotel Rooms.” Head upstairs to check out the vintage corridor leading to the original 47 rooms of the El Cortez when it opened in 1941—you’ll pick up on the Havana-style décor, a nod to one-time owners Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lanksy. The hotel rooms are available to rent.
While upstairs, you can do as the dapper dudes did at the Speakeasy Barbershop for an old-school blade shave and beard trim. The barbershop has been tucked in the corner of the original rooms for decades, and you’ll feel as if you’ve stumbled on a secret and stepped back in time.
Before leaving, head to the Parlor Lounge for a Manhattan and relax in the vintage surroundings before settling into the old-school restaurant Siegel’s 1941 for a classic prime rib dinner for only $16.95. Now that’s history-making!
El Cortez, 702.385.5200
Click here for your free subscription to the weekly digital edition of Las Vegas Magazine, your guide to everything to do, hear, see and experience in Southern Nevada. In addition to the latest edition emailed to every week, you’ll find plenty of great, money-saving offers from some of the most exciting attractions, restaurants, properties and more! And Las Vegas Magazine is full of informative content such as restaurants to visit, cocktails to sip and attractions to enjoy.
