It was a majestic mid-century modern piece of architecture sitting right there on Fremont Street amid the western motif of the Golden Nugget and the western flavor of Benny Binion's Horseshoe Club.

The Mint, all pink and adorned in a necklace of chaser lights and neon, is the one hotel on Fremont Street that to this day, when Hollywood set designers want to reference that era and Las Vegas, the Mint is the go-to choice. With its pylon sign and the chaser lights rising into the night sky to light the neon star at the top of the pylon, the Mint gloried in its mid-century modern finery.

Read more at ClassicLasVegasBlog.com

Historic Fifth Street Grammar School

Today's Preservation Spotlight shines on Courtney Mooney, the Preservation Officer for the City of Las Vegas. May is Preservation Month and this year we are talking to some of the preservationists, archivists and historians whose work towards saving our history isn't always acknowledged.

We've worked with Courtney on a number of projects related to our Classic Las Vegas preservation project, so we were very happy when she agreed to be interviewed.

CLVBlog:  How did you become interested in preserving Southern Nevada history?

 Mooney:  As a native Nevadan, our state’s history holds a special place in my heart.  That being said, I’m addicted to all history, including archaeology and natural history, because it explains everything about who we are as individuals and as a community, why we are here at this very moment, and how we can create our own legacies. 

You can read more of the interview at:

ClassicLasVegasBlog.com

There is a very real possibility that the whimsical neon fish that has long advertised Davy's Locker bar on Desert Inn near Maryland Parkway may go dark and worse, be replaced by a generic strip mall sign.

Learn how you can help save the Neon Fish at:

ClassicLasVegasBlog.com

Photo courtesy of Las Vegas Weekly and Sam Morris

We look at the history of Helldorado (with pics and rare parade footage from the 1950s) just in time for this year's western celebration (it begins on Wednesday).

For all the details, history and footage, check out the blog at

ClassicLasVegasBlog.com

As May is Preservation Month, we shine our first spotlight on the newest member of the Preservation community, David Van Zanten and the Las Vegas Historical Society.

Up on the blog at ClassicLasVegasBlog.com