From 1951 to 1963, above-ground nuclear weapons tests at the Nevada Test Site became an unlikely tourist attraction for Las Vegas. Hotels organized "dawn bomb parties" where guests could watch mushroom clouds rise over the desert while sipping cocktails.

The Spectacle

The Nevada Test Site, located just 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, conducted over 100 above-ground nuclear tests during this period. The explosions were visible from downtown, and the city quickly learned to market the spectacle. Hotels built observation decks, and "Miss Atomic Energy" pageants crowned local beauty queens.

Marketing the Bomb

Las Vegas fully embraced atomic culture. Casinos created "atomic cocktails," hotels issued schedules of upcoming tests, and postcards featured mushroom clouds alongside casino marquees. The juxtaposition of nuclear annihilation and entertainment excess captured something essentially American.

The End of an Era

The Partial Test Ban Treaty of 1963 drove nuclear testing underground, ending the visible spectacles. But the atomic era left its mark on Las Vegas's identity—a willingness to commodify anything, even the apocalypse, for tourist dollars.

Legacy

Today, the National Atomic Testing Museum on the Strip preserves this bizarre chapter. Visitors can learn about the Cold War while surrounded by slot machines—a fitting tribute to Las Vegas's ability to turn anything into entertainment.