Golden Nugget

Year opened: 1946

Still standing: 

Famous for: The Tank, a three-story outdoor swimming pool complete with waterslide and 200,000-gallon live shark aquarium.

Did you know? The Nugget is home to the Hand of Faith, the largest gold nugget ever discovered using a metal detector. Kevin Hillier found it in 1980 in Wedderburn, Australia.

 

Circus Circus

Year opened: 1968

Still standing: The Midway, home to free, daily circus acts.

Famous for: The 5-acre Adventuredome theme park, home to 25 rides and attractions. And for being mentioned in Hunter S. Thompson’s 1971 novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Did you know? Circus Circus has been featured in the movies Leaving Las Vegas, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever.

 

El Cortez

Year opened: 1941

Still standing: A selection of original rooms and its 1952 facade featuring its iconic neon sign.

Famous for: In 1945, El Cortez was sold to Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, Meyer Lansky, Gus Greenbaum and Moe Sedway. Siegel later sold the hotel and used the profits to complete development of the Flamingo.

Did you know? El Cortez is the only operating Las Vegas casino on the National Register of Historic Places.

 

Flamingo

Year opened: 1946

Still standing: Sadly, nothing from the original Flamingo Hotel survives on-site today.

Famous for: Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel and business partner Meyer Lansky constructed the Flamingo—the Strip’s first resort-style hotel—with the intention of bringing Hollywood glam to the desert.

Did you know? Viva Las Vegas, the 1964 film starring Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret, was filmed at the Flamingo Hotel. Flamingo performers have included Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and The Supremes.

 

Tropicana

Year opened: 1957

Still standing: The Tiffany-inspired stained-glass ceiling was installed in 1979, when it was estimated to be worth more than $1 million.

Famous for: Its luxurious Pool Villas, reminiscent of ocean-side beach houses.

Did you know? Topless showgirl revue Les Folies Bergere ran continuously at the Trop for 49 years.

 

Golden Gate

Year opened: 1906

Still standing: The city’s first telephone, which guests can view in the hotel lobby. The original phone number was 1. The hotel has also preserved several early rooms, now known as the Original 10.

Famous for: Golden Gate was the first hotel structure and the first casino in Las Vegas.

Did you know? The Golden Gate’s bar—now known as Bar Prohibition!—was a regular hangout spot for Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin.