Old Downtown Las Vegas

Until the late 20th century, the only Las Vegas was Downtown Vegas. This is where gambling began and the Las Vegas myths were made. Vegas in the 21st century has since become two separate entities at the opposite ends of the famed Las Vegas Boulevard. The old city centre at the northern end has lost the glamour battle with it’s bigger, brasher younger brother known as the strip at the southern end. The old downtown Vegas has become the seedy place; somewhere to lose your money on the two-dollar blackjack tables and nickel slot machines. Gone are the days of rat-pack glamour.

But for all it’s downbeat feel, downtown has so much more going for it compared to the sterile corporate “Strip”. Up here its a messy but uplifting collection of locals, weekend revellers, hustlers, newlyweds, bohemians and street performers, all coming together on it’s neon-lit streets full of noisy bars, tattoo parlours, wedding chapels and vintage casinos.

Commissioned by The Guardian.