El Cortez Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas
El Cortez, a casino-hotel property in Las Vegas, has been in operation since November 7, 1941, making it one of the city's oldest establishments that is still active. Situated near the Fremont Street Experience and Las Vegas Boulevard, it was initially considered a bit far from downtown. However, its success was swift and substantial, leading infamous mobsters Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, Gus Greenbaum, and Moe Sedway to acquire it in 1945 for $600,000. Siegel himself gained valuable experience in running a casino business at El Cortez.
Despite the passing decades, El Cortez continues to thrive. The building predominantly showcases Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, but it underwent a modernization of its facade in 1952. Following subsequent renovations and revitalization efforts, the establishment added a new tower and a neon sign—an iconic art form that had fallen out of favor until recently, when certain hotels and businesses rediscovered its charm.
Recognizing its historical significance, El Cortez was officially included on the National Register of Historic Places on February 22, 2013.
Despite the passing decades, El Cortez continues to thrive. The building predominantly showcases Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, but it underwent a modernization of its facade in 1952. Following subsequent renovations and revitalization efforts, the establishment added a new tower and a neon sign—an iconic art form that had fallen out of favor until recently, when certain hotels and businesses rediscovered its charm.
Recognizing its historical significance, El Cortez was officially included on the National Register of Historic Places on February 22, 2013.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Las Vegas. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The GPSmyCity App
El Cortez Hotel and Casino on Map
Sight Name: El Cortez Hotel and Casino
Sight Location: Las Vegas, USA (See walking tours in Las Vegas)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Las Vegas, USA (See walking tours in Las Vegas)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Las Vegas, Nevada
Create Your Own Walk in Las Vegas
Creating your own self-guided walk in Las Vegas is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Downtown Walking Tour
The historic center of Las Vegas, located just north of the famous Strip, was first developed in the early 1900s. Having grown rapidly during the 1930s, when gambling was legalized in Nevada, "Old Vegas" is home to many of the city's earliest casinos and hotels, such as the Golden Nugget and the El Cortez. The latter, in particular, offers a somewhat nostalgic and romanticized view... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Gangster Attractions Walking Tour
The development of Las Vegas as a gambling and entertainment hub in the mid-20th century drew the attention of powerful criminal syndicates, who saw the potential for profit in the city's casinos and other enterprises. Indeed, Las Vegas with its glitz and glamour wouldn't be what it is now without the involvement of mobster “wiseguys”. There are still a few places in town that evoke... view more
Tour Duration: 4 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 10.2 Km or 6.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 4 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 10.2 Km or 6.3 Miles
Las Vegas Boulevard Walking Tour
Built amid Mojave Desert in the country's driest state of Nevada, Las Vegas, or simply Vegas, is the driest major city in the United States. An iconic destination renowned for its luxurious and extremely large, operating round-the-clock casino-hotels and numerous associated entertainment options, the city bills itself as the Entertainment Capital of the World.
The name Las Vegas – which... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
The name Las Vegas – which... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Top 24 Buffets in Las Vegas
In 1941, Thomas Hull, the man behind the Strip’s first hotel the El Rancho Vegas, realized that even though he might lose a few dollars by offering an “all you can eat” buffet,” the reward of funneling thousands of hungry gamblers through his casino to get to the buffet would more than pay...
20 Souvenirs to Bring Home from Las Vegas
You may have kept on the run, had some fun in Las Vegas and, unless it cost you the very last dime, you might want to pick up something memorable to bring home, other than a handful of uncashed casino chips. In fact, you might as well be surprised to know there is something else in Vegas, apart from...
15 Best Food Destinations in Las Vegas
Las Vegas has a long-standing history of great restaurants. The city has grown so fast in the last decades, seeing many celebrity chefs in the world of culinary setting up multiple craft food establishments in either mega-resort hotels or private entities off-the-Strip, that now it is practically...