Since its beginnings in the 1940s, the Las Vegas Strip has been one of America’s most consequential laboratories of architectural experimentation. Driven by relentless competition and vast budgets, developers have outdone one another with ever more ambitious resorts — each striving to be the biggest, boldest, and most immersive — placing the Strip at the forefront of engineering spectacle and place-making at a scale unmatched anywhere else. No single resort marked a sharper turn in this trajectory than the Mirage. When Steve Wynn’s $630 million resort opened in 1989, fronted by an eight-story volcano spewing piña-colada-scented flames, it was the world’s most expensive casino-resort and the first full-scale theme park attraction right on the Strip, ending the reign of surface parking lots. It kick-started what came to be called the “Mirage phase,” drawing an entirely new demographic to Las Vegas and establishing the integrated mega-resort template that every subsequent era has answered to: from the themed spectacles of the 1990s with their pirate villages and miniature skylines, to today’s entertainment icons, including the world’s largest hotels, Formula 1 racing woven into the urban fabric, and the LED-clad Sphere, the highest-grossing arena on the planet. This talk traces seven decades of innovation along the Strip, examines the forces shaping its current moment, and looks ahead to what comes next as Las Vegas confronts shifting demographics, a warming climate, and the changing nature of leisure itself — including what the recent closure and reimagining of the Mirage itself signals about the Strip’s next chapter. 

“From the Mirage to the Sphere, the Las Vegas Strip has engineered spectacle and world-building at a scale unmatched anywhere else. It remains the proving ground for where hospitality and entertainment go next.”

Stand on the spot where Las Vegas began and walk the legendary casinos and glittering neon signs that have uniquely placed this city in the public imagination. Behind the sumptuous electric facades, hotel lobbies and cozy gambling parlors, our curated tour will explore hidden often overlooked places, and we’ll see obscure objects and curious artifacts, old and new, that have contributed to the storied past of this city for the past 100 years.  

Tour participants must be 21 years of age or older. The two-hour walking tour will begin at Binion’s and end at Vegas Vickie’s Lounge for a complimentary drink. 

UNLV School of Architecture students have been tasked with approaching Las Vegas architectural destinations through the lenses of water conservation, historic preservation, and diversity in the profession. With access to archival materials, each student created a collage capturing the essence of their selected landmark(s). Through juried competition, 10 collages and an accompanying Artists Statement, are on view inside the Pikake Room at The California Hotel and Casino.  Vote for ‘Viewers Choice’ award any day during Duck Duck Shed.

UNVL Architectural Collage Competition
Sponsored by AIA Las Vegas.

Join friends and make new ones at The Pullman Room – an intimate event venue meticulously designed to mimic the opulence and craftsmanship of the turn-of-the-century Victorian era.

The room contains an actual, historic Pullman railroad car named after Louisa May Alcott. The car was originally built into the hotel’s old restaurant layout and serves as a core centerpiece.

Embark on a cinematic journey through the glittering streets of Las Vegas with the Movie Tour at The Neon Museum. Our guided experience invites film enthusiasts and city explorers alike to delve into the iconic backdrops and neon-lit landscapes that have graced the silver screen.

The tour unveils the magic behind some of the most memorable movie moments set against the vibrant backdrop of Las Vegas. The Neon Museum, with its eclectic collection of neon signs and vintage marquees, serves as a living testament to the city’s lasting cinematic allure. From classic films to modern blockbusters, these signs become a reel of memories, transporting visitors into the heart of the movies.

45 minute tour

A great way to experience the Aria Fine Art Collection installation is to walk it. A better way is to have a personal tour with the curator, Michele C Quinn. This experience, limited to just 15 guests, will delve into the four years of planning, purchasing of existing works and commissioning original installations at Las Vegas’ largest concentrated public art display. The tour will include personal stories only a curator can provide and insights into works by Maya Lin, Jenny Holzer, Rashid Johnson, Antony Gormley, Frank Stella, and others. Guests to meet at Vdara Lobby.

Stand on the spot where Las Vegas began and walk the legendary casinos and glittering neon signs that have uniquely placed this city in the public imagination. Behind the sumptuous electric facades, hotel lobbies and cozy gambling parlors, our curated tour will explore hidden often overlooked places, and we’ll see obscure objects and curious artifacts, old and new, that have contributed to the storied past of this city for the past 100 years.  

Tour participants must be 21 years of age or older. The two-hour walking tour will begin at Binion’s and end at Vegas Vickie’s Lounge for a complimentary drink. 

UNLV School of Architecture students have been tasked with approaching Las Vegas architectural destinations through the lenses of water conservation, historic preservation, and diversity in the profession. With access to archival materials, each student created a collage capturing the essence of their selected landmark(s). Through juried competition, 10 collages and an accompanying Artists Statement, are on view inside the Pikake Room at The California Hotel and Casino.  Vote for ‘Viewers Choice’ award any day during Duck Duck Shed.

UNVL Architectural Collage Competition
Sponsored by AIA Las Vegas.

From color theory to design, scale, and sensory immersion, Las Vegas is a distinctive case  study in how design shapes thought and behavior. Join Sean Adams for How Design Makes  Us Think: Las Vegas, a lecture exploring how architecture, interiors, graphics, lighting, and  color do more than create visual appeal. They produce emotional, intellectual, and visceral  responses that influence how people see, feel, move, and act. Through visual examples, this  session examines how designers use aesthetic cues to direct attention, create desire, build  memory, and transform ordinary environments into persuasive experiences. 

Embark on a cinematic journey through the glittering streets of Las Vegas with the Movie Tour at The Neon Museum. Our guided experience invites film enthusiasts and city explorers alike to delve into the iconic backdrops and neon-lit landscapes that have graced the silver screen.

The tour unveils the magic behind some of the most memorable movie moments set against the vibrant backdrop of Las Vegas. The Neon Museum, with its eclectic collection of neon signs and vintage marquees, serves as a living testament to the city’s lasting cinematic allure. From classic films to modern blockbusters, these signs become a reel of memories, transporting visitors into the heart of the movies.

45 minute tour

Duck Duck Shed and The Neon Museum welcome all to STEAM Family Fest – Signs and Skylines! Designed around hands-on exploration of science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

Learn from Las Vegas’s most famous and unforgettable structures, designed by creative architects, brilliant engineers, and skilled technicians. Explore how architects and designers contribute to the city’s unique look, through expressive building shapes, design styles, bold carpet patterns, iconic outdoor features like the late Mirage volcano, and the evolution of casino spaces. This event brings architecture to life with scavenger hunts through the Neon Boneyard, interactive demonstrations, creative crafts, and activities led by The Neon Museum staff and community partners.

UNLV School of Architecture students have been tasked with approaching Las Vegas architectural destinations through the lenses of water conservation, historic preservation, and diversity in the profession. With access to archival materials, each student created a collage capturing the essence of their selected landmark(s). Through juried competition, 10 collages and an accompanying Artists Statement, are on view inside the Pikake Room at The California Hotel and Casino.  Vote for ‘Viewers Choice’ award any day during Duck Duck Shed.

UNVL Architectural Collage Competition
Sponsored by AIA Las Vegas.

A great way to experience the Aria Fine Art Collection installation is to walk it. A better way is to have a personal tour with the curator, Michele C Quinn. This experience, limited to just 15 guests, will delve into the four years of planning, purchasing of existing works and commissioning original installations at Las Vegas’ largest concentrated public art display. The tour will include personal stories only a curator can provide and insights into works by Maya Lin, Jenny Holzer, Rashid Johnson, Antony Gormley, Frank Stella, and others. Guests to meet at Vdara Lobby.

Embark on a cinematic journey through the glittering streets of Las Vegas with the Movie Tour at The Neon Museum. Our guided experience invites film enthusiasts and city explorers alike to delve into the iconic backdrops and neon-lit landscapes that have graced the silver screen.

The tour unveils the magic behind some of the most memorable movie moments set against the vibrant backdrop of Las Vegas. The Neon Museum, with its eclectic collection of neon signs and vintage marquees, serves as a living testament to the city’s lasting cinematic allure. From classic films to modern blockbusters, these signs become a reel of memories, transporting visitors into the heart of the movies.

45 minute tour

Embark on a cinematic journey through the glittering streets of Las Vegas with the Movie Tour at The Neon Museum. Our guided experience invites film enthusiasts and city explorers alike to delve into the iconic backdrops and neon-lit landscapes that have graced the silver screen.

The tour unveils the magic behind some of the most memorable movie moments set against the vibrant backdrop of Las Vegas. The Neon Museum, with its eclectic collection of neon signs and vintage marquees, serves as a living testament to the city’s lasting cinematic allure. From classic films to modern blockbusters, these signs become a reel of memories, transporting visitors into the heart of the movies.

45 minute tour