Oral history interview with Eric Mendoza conducted by Holly O'Donnell on November 29, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Eric Mendoza shares his family's chain migration history from Manila, Philippines to the United States and his difficult immigration and naturalization process once arriving in America in 1996. He talks about what brought him to live in Las Vegas, Nevada, his education and professional pursuits, what his life is like in the United States compared to that of the Philippines, and the lives of his eight siblings. Eric Mendoza discusses the historical past of the Philippines, the infrastructure in place there, and government corruption. He also speaks to Filipino traditions and festivals, food and customs, his cultural identity, and assimilating to American culture.
The collection is comprised of drawings (1965-1996) completed by American architect Gary Guy Wilson and/or his architectural firm, Gary Guy Wilson, AIA, Architect Studios and contains 613 sets of drawings from over 250 different projects. Primarily focused on the Las Vegas, Nevada area, the materials feature hand-drawn architectural drawings, ranging from preliminary sketches to construction documents, and a number of printed computer aided drawings. The drawings also contain work from a number of consultants, engineers, and other architects who collaborated on the development of the various projects. The drawings include: commercial and professional buildings of varying scales, such as convenience stores, hotels, casinos, shopping centers, and office developments; schools; military buildings at both Nellis and Indian Springs Air Force Bases; multi-family residential developments; and custom single-family homes located throughout the Southwest (United States).
The Richard Ronzone Photographs depict Las Vegas, Nevada storeowner and politician Richard “Dick” Ronzone and his family from 1920 to 1989 and 2001. The photographs primarily depict Ronzone at Ronzone’s Store in Las Vegas, at events with politicians such as Nevada Governor Paul Laxalt, or at the Las Vegas Valley Water District. The photographs also depict Ronzone during his service with the Nevada National Guard; portraits of Ronzone, his wife Ann Roeth Ronzone, and his mother Bertha Ronzone; and events during Ronzone’s tenure as a Clark County Commissioner from 1972 to 1980.
On March 15, 1976, Stephen Kalish interviewed Alfred “Al” Isola (born August 3rd, 1917 in Oakland, California) in his office about his garbage company and early Southern Nevada. The two discuss Las Vegas’ lack of a unified garbage system and how dumping sites have had to adjust their practices in order to limit their impact on pollution. Isola also explains the different disposal protocols for wet and dry trash. On the second tape of the interview, an unidentified woman enters the conversation.
Progress report with copies of relevant correspondence regarding the creation of an irrigation district in the Moapa Valley. Project Number: State Office #172, Clark County #12
Daytime views of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign on the Strip. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet. Site name: Welcome to Las Vegas neon sign Site address: 5200 S Las Vegas Blvd Sign owner: YESCO Sign details: The sign sits as a welcome to travelers entering the Las Vegas experience via Las Vegas Blvd The sign itself resides in the middle of traffic median directly in the middle of the road. Sign condition: Structure 5 Surface 5 Lighting 5 Sign form: Pylon Sign-specific description: The sign itself is a classic roadside pole design which faces North/South. It is double backed, internally lit with a border of yellow incandescent bulbs along the flat edge of its width. Across the top of the sign seven white neon circles house separate red neon letters which form the word welcome. Crowning the sign at the very peak, above the word welcome, is a seven pointed neon star comprised of orange and yellow neon. The cabinet itself is faced with translucent white plastic and treated with blue and red painted text. The South side of the sign reads with the Neon welcome word then in blue painted text "To Fabulous" in a 50's style text reminiscent of that used in the Last Frontier property, and cursive. The Words "Las Vegas" are spelled in all caps, in red block text. And below that in smaller blue text the word "Nevada" are spelled in all caps block text. Sign - type of display: Neon; Incandescent; Backlit Sign - media: Steel; Plastic Sign - non-neon treatments: Graphics; Paint Sign animation: chasing, flashing Sign environment: The famous Welcome to Las Vegas sign sits alone at the South end of the strip and is often the very first sign a traveler encounters when entering the strip. It casts a surprisingly powerful glow over the barren median which it stands. It stands as a gateway to the extravaganza that is Las Vegas. When leaving the main drag headed south the sign has an equal effect of being a lone gateway in and out of the Strip. Sign manufacturer: YESCO Sign designer: Betty Willis Sign - date of installation: 1959 Sign - thematic influences: Although it has no specific theme, it is from a specific period in Las Vegas History. It is the quintessential roadside pylon design. With an exposed steel center pole double backed marquee it is reminiscent of the common design of the roadside motor inn. Sign - artistic significance: This sign has become perhaps the most copied icon of Las Vegas, as it was never copyrighted. It is a ubiquitous symbol of the city. Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday Survey - date completed: 2002 Sign keywords: Chasing; Flashing; Pylon; Neon; Incandescent; Backlit; Steel; Plastic; Paint; Graphics