The Bill Willard Photograph Collection depicts Las Vegas, Nevada, hotels and casinos in Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Valley, and Laughlin, Nevada from 1905 to 1919 and from 1940 to 1999. The photographs primarily depict hotels and casinos in Las Vegas, including the Sahara Hotel, Circus Circus Hotel and Casino, MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, Caesars Palace, Flamingo Hotel, and the Aladdin Hotel. The photographs also depict students at Nevada Southern University (predecessor of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas), the city of Las Vegas, industrial plants in Henderson and Apex, Nevada, and events in Laughlin, Nevada.
Daytime and nighttime views of the Venetian sign on the Strip. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet. Site name: Venetian (Las Vegas, Nev.) Site address: 3355 S Las Vegas Blvd Sign owner: Las Vegas Sands, Inc., Sheldon Adelson Sign details: The Venetian utilizes very little signage at all ad relies heavily on the architecture and themed environment which it creates for its advertisements. Sign condition: Structure 5 Surface 5 Lighting 5 Sign form: Pylon Sign-specific description: The signage for the Venetian Hotel and Casino is limited to an architecturally integrated sign on the north end of the property, The structure is essentially a giant arch which supports two levels which hold the signage. The arch which rises out of the roof of a building has six columns on its western most exposed edge, at the base. Each section of the pylon, is flanked by sets of four columns. The top sections legs prove to be shorter, being that they are supports for crown of smaller arches. Each flanking arcade is capped with a pointing spire. The top cabinet is an internally lot log for the Venetian. Sign - type of display: Backlit; Ambient Sign - media: Steel; Plastic; Masonry Sign environment: The Venetian is quite successful in creating an environment since the entire facade creates wrapping arms of architecture, ambiently lit. The ornate quatrefoils, details columns and capitals form walls of joined elements and design rotations, that turn endlessly upon one another. The giant towers perching statuary high above the pedestrians head leave those who wander near the Venetian constantly looking up. Whether in the day or night hours, the Venetians plaza creates a environment which is pedestrian friendly. Sign designer: The Stubbins Association Sign - date of installation: 1998 Sign - thematic influences: The theme surrounding the Venetian is suggested strongly in the name of the property as well. The architecture is modeled after that seen in the city of Venice, Italy, and stays true to the form regardless of the configuration of the collection. It falls into the category of property which is themed after a city, particularly that of European origin. Such other examples include the Paris and the Bellagio. Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday Survey - date completed: 2002 Sign keywords: Pylon; Backlit; Steel; Plastic; Masonry