Las Vegas, Nevada - Hilton Hotel & Casino

 1971 3 x 5” Color Photograph Snapshot 

Judging by the angle, this photo appears to be taken from the parking lot of Howard Hughes Landmark Hotel. Very Rare photo of Las Vegas history. 

Now the location of the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino near the northern end of the Las Vegas Strip. It opened in 1969 as the International Hotel, and was known for many years as the Las Vegas Hilton, then briefly as the LVH – Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. From 1981 to 1990, it was the largest hotel in the world. Howard Hughes, who had purchased several Las Vegas casinos, saw the Hilton as a rival and the International as unwelcome competition. He attempted to deter the owners from building the project, first by making a sham announcement of a major planned expansion of his Sands Hotel and then by conveying false claims  about damage to buildings from nearby nuclear tests. When these ruses failed, Hughes schemed to buy the project from halt its construction, but this plan came to nothing. Ultimately, Hughes decided to compete head-on with the International by purchasing the unfinished Landmark Hotel and Casino located across the street, where this picture was probably taken. Hughes completed construction of the Landmark and opened it one day before Hilton hotel.

Picture is in excellent condition. Curving is from years of storage in smoke free home.See pics for details. Sold as Pictured.