Skip to main content

Search the Special Collections and Archives Portal

Graglia, Joseph, 1876-1934

Description

Joseph Graglia was an early resident of Las Vegas, Nevada. Born February 9, 1876 in Italy, he settled in British Columbia, Canada with his wife Frances. Graglia and his family moved to Rhyolite, Nevada in 1908 and later moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1911.

Joe Graglia was the brother-in-law and business partner of Domenic Pecetto. In addition to being a prominent member of the Italian-American community, Graglia was the proprietor of many different hotel, food, and entertainment businesses in the Las Vegas area. These businesses included the Union Hotel and Bar, Pair o’ Dice Nite Club, and National Hotel. Graglia built the National Hotel in 1923, located at Third Avenue and Carson Street in Las Vegas, and operated it with his wife Frances and son John until his death in 1934.

Source:

Balboni, Alan. “From Laborer to Entrepreneur: The Italian-American in Southern Nevada, 1905-1947.” Nevada Historical Society Quarterly, 34, no. 1 (Spring 1991): 257-272.