ZQs Vacays

07/23/2026

07/16/2026

07/16/2026

Before the Strip, before neon, and before millions of visitors, the Hotel Nevada helped connect Las Vegas to the world.

in 1907, the city's first telephone was installed there, marking a milestone in Las Vegas history. Over time, the building and property expanded and evolved into today's Golden Gate Hotel & Casino, later earning another claim to fame as the birthplace of the iconic shrimp cocktail.

Photo courtesy of Vintage Vegas.

06/24/2026

Forgotten Boulder Hwy clubs in 1943.

Boulder Hwy was dotted with clubs in the 1930s-1940s, even before nightlife picked up on the Las Vegas Strip. Most of these places closed and were rarely photographed. Here's a few in Pittman, the unincorporated area north of downtown Henderson. Pittman Recreation Center was around only from 1942-1946. In the distance in the second photo is the sign for Cactus Club, which survived into the 1950s. These clubs were roughly the area of today's Skyline Casino.

Photos by John Florea/Life Magazine, 1943.

06/19/2026

Holy Cow Casino, Las Vegas Blvd & Sahara, 1993.

1/3-century ago a fiberglass cow with sunglasses named Alphie watched over the north end of the Strip. Tom Wiesner opened the brewery/casino.