Fremont Street

Summary

Fremont Street is a street in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada that is the second most famous street in the Las Vegas Valley – and Nevada – besides the Las Vegas Strip. Named in honor of explorer and politician, and coordinator of the Sacramento River massacre John C. Frémont and located in the heart of the downtown casino corridor, Fremont Street is today, or was, the address for many famous casinos such as Binion's Horseshoe, Eldorado Club, Fremont Hotel and Casino, Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, Golden Nugget, Four Queens, The Mint, and the Pioneer Club.

Fremont Street 1952
Fremont Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas

Prior to the construction of the Fremont Street Experience, the western end of Fremont Street was the representative scene for Las Vegas that was included in virtually every television show and movie that wanted to depict the glittery lights of Las Vegas. The abundance of neon signs, like cowboy Vegas Vic, earned the street the nickname of "Glitter Gulch".

Fremont Street is designated between Main Street and Sahara Avenue in a northwest–southeast direction, although auto traffic actually begins at Las Vegas Boulevard. At Sahara, it leaves Las Vegas proper and continues as Boulder Highway. Fremont Street formerly carried several national highways, including U.S. Route 93 (US 93), US 95, and US 466. US 93 and US 95 have been rerouted along Interstate 515, while US 466 has been decommissioned. The section of Fremont Street east of the Fremont East District is currently designated Nevada State Route 582.

Although prostitution has been illegal in Clark County since 1971,[1] the street has a reputation for prostitution.[2]

History edit

 
Fremont Street's illuminated "Space Frame"

Fremont Street dates back to 1905, when Las Vegas itself was founded. Fremont Street was the first paved street in Las Vegas in 1925[3] and received the city's first traffic light in 1931.[4] Fremont Street also carried the shields of U.S. Route 93 (US 93), US 95, and US 466 before the construction of the interstate freeways, including I-15.

While gambling was established prior to being legalized, the Northern Club in 1931 received one of the first 6 gambling licenses issued in Nevada, and the first one for Fremont Street.

Glitter Gulch on Fremont Street, was closed to vehicle traffic in September, 1994, to begin construction on the Fremont Street Experience.

Film and media history edit

 
The Golden Nugget and Binion's casinos at night
 
View northwest along Fremont Street at Las Vegas Boulevard

Fremont East edit

 
The Fremont East Entertainment District.

In 2002 the city of Las Vegas created the Fremont East Entertainment District (FEED), an entertainment district in the heart of downtown Las Vegas.[7] In 2004 the city announced plans to redevelop a three block section of Fremont Street east of the Fremont Street Experience as an arts and entertainment area within FEED. The $5.5 million streetscape improvement project was a public private partnership with 50% paid by landlords via new businesses and 50% paid with tax dollars as part of a plans to revitalize Downtown Las Vegas.[8] The area was redesigned to increase the draw to downtown, with a compact entertainment area of bars and clubs.[9][10]

The three-block renovation included pedestrian-friendly street redesign, landscaping, and retro-looking new neon signage. It also included 4 vintage Vegas neon signs in the street median, built new but reminiscent of classic Las Vegas signs. Fremont East street improvements opened officially in the summer of 2007.[7]

Currently, the Fremont East Entertainment District comprises a total of six blocks. The boundaries are from Las Vegas Boulevard East to 8th Street, and then from Ogden Street South to Carson.[7] The historic El Cortez hotel and casino are within the district as well as the staple cocktail bar Downtown Cocktail Room. Beyond this district on Fremont lies the bulk of Tony Hsieh's Downtown Project.

References edit

  1. ^ "NRS 244.345 Dancing halls, escort services, entertainment by referral services and gambling games or devices; limitation on licensing of houses of prostitution". Nevada Revised Statutes. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  2. ^ Longobardy, Joshua (27 July 2006). "The Politics of a Prostitution Sting – Las Vegas Weekly". lasvegasweekly.com. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  3. ^ "Fremont Street History". Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  4. ^ "Fremont Street Experience Las Vegas". ExploringLasVegas.com. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
  5. ^ Miller, Cody (November 27, 2019). "The Weeknd seen running through downtown Las Vegas for new music video". KSNV. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  6. ^ "The Weeknd - Listening Experience". Universal Digital. Archived from the original on 2019-12-06. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c Fremonteast.com: Fremont East Entertainment District (FEED) . accessed 5.5.2015
  8. ^ "New district is all about old Las Vegas". Las Vegas Sun. 2007-01-18. Retrieved 2007-08-27.
  9. ^ "PHOTOS: Fremont East Gets Glamour Treatment". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2007-08-27.
  10. ^ "Third Street has potential to be night life magnet". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2004-09-18. Retrieved 2007-08-27.

External links edit

  • Official Fremont East Entertainment District website
  • Official Fremont Street Experience website
  • Vegas Today + Tomorrow: Fremont East
  • Living in Las Vegas Podcast: review of the Fremont East District
  • Fremont Street in 1939

36°09′35″N 115°07′07″W / 36.15972°N 115.11861°W / 36.15972; -115.11861