Harry Reid: “March 24, 1955, was a significant date in the history of Las Vegas. That date marked the opening of Nevada's first…”

“March 24, 1955, was a significant date in the history of Las Vegas. That date marked the opening of Nevada's first racially integrated hotel--the Moulin Rouge Hotel and Casino. At that time, the city of Las Vegas was already earning international recognition as an entertainment and resort mecca. However, black entertainers performing in Las Vegas were not allowed to stay in the hotels where they performed, nor were they allowed to enter the casinos or restaurants on the Las Vegas Strip. Instead, entertainers such as Sammy Davis Jr., Nat ``King'' Cole, and Lena Horne were forced to seek accommodations in local boarding houses. The Moulin Rouge changed all that. When the Moulin Rouge opened, it immediately became the night spot for top stars such as Davis, Harry Belafonte, and Frank Sinatra. They were joined by Ella Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Bob Hope, Tallulah Bankhead, Louis Armstrong, and many more. When shows on the Strip ended, entertainers and their followers flocked to the Moulin Rouge where they would continue performing into the wee hours of the morning. The hotel became home to black entertainers headlining on the Strip, and a venue where they performed, alongside their white peers, to audiences of all races. The Moulin Rouge closed in October of 1955, just 6 months after its celebrated opening. However, its impact lived on. Other Las Vegas hotels began their own efforts at desegregation.”