Moulin Rouge Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Triblend Tee

Venue Description

In the 1950s, Downtown Las Vegas and the Strip were predominantly segregated, with most casinos being off-limits to Black people except for employees and entertainers. Businessman Vester Heath saw the need for an integrated hotel, and a group of White investors, led by Will Max Schwartz, financed and, on May 24, 1955, opened the Moulin Rouge at 900 West Bonanza Road, the first integrated hotel casino in the United States. The hotel/casino, located between the predominantly White Strip and the segregated Black neighborhood of West Las Vegas, quickly became popular among a racially integrated clientele and world-famous celebrities. The Moulin Rouge was a landmark for civil rights, being ground zero for the end of segregation on the Strip. However, under strange circumstances that remain unclear to this day, the Moulin Rouge suddenly closed its doors for good in October 1955, a mere six months after opening. Some say it was due to financial difficulties and poor management, while others say it was due to intense resistance from segregationists and organized crime. The original Moulin Rouge hotel and casino was demolished decades ago; the property is now owned by BBC Capital, an Australian-based investment company, who plans to build a new hotel/casino on the site. The Las Vegas Moulin Rouge (LVMR) organization has been trying to acquire the land but has thus far not been successful.