The Moulin Rouge opened in May 1955 as the first racially integrated hotel-casino in Las Vegas history. Though it operated for only six months, it proved that integration was commercially viable and set the stage for the desegregation of the entire Strip.

The Segregated Strip

In 1955, Las Vegas was rigidly segregated. Black entertainers like Sammy Davis Jr., Lena Horne, and Nat King Cole could perform on the Strip but couldn't stay in the hotels, gamble in the casinos, or eat in the restaurants. They were relegated to boarding houses in the Westside.

A Bold Experiment

The Moulin Rouge, located on Bonanza Road in the Westside, was designed from the start as an integrated establishment. Black and white patrons could gamble together, dine together, and stay in the same hotel—revolutionary for its time.

The Hottest Spot in Town

The Moulin Rouge quickly became Las Vegas's most exciting venue. After their Strip shows ended, performers of all races headed to the Moulin Rouge for legendary late-night jam sessions. The segregated Strip was suddenly competing with its own creation.

"After midnight, everyone was at the Moulin Rouge. The Strip was dead, and we were alive."— Clarence Ray, Moulin Rouge performer

The Mysterious Closure

In October 1955, the Moulin Rouge closed abruptly. Official reasons cited financial difficulties, but many suspected pressure from Strip operators threatened by its success. The property never regained its former glory.

The Lasting Impact

In 1960, the Moulin Rouge hosted the meeting where Strip operators agreed to desegregate. The casino that had proven integration possible became the site where it was formalized—a fitting legacy for a brief but transformative experiment.