Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Supported by

Former Westside Guest House Lands on the National Registry of Historic Places

Harrison’s Guest House in Las Vegas has become Nevada’s latest addition to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places

Harrison’s Guest House in Las Vegas has become Nevada’s latest addition to the National Register of Historic Places

In the 1950’s and 60s, an African-American woman from Texas named Genevieve Harrison ran a little guest house on the Westside of Las Vegas.

Her guests included many prominent entertainers of the day: Nat King Cole, Pearl Bailey, Sammy Davis, Jr. among them.

These were times when black entertainers were barred from staying overnight at the Strip hotels even though they were headliners in the showrooms.

But they found some degree of refuge – and sleep -  at Genevieve Harrison’s Guest House, 1001 F Street, which has landed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Claytee White, director, Oral History Research Center at UNLV. 

Stay Connected
Since June 2015, Fred has been a producer at KNPR's State of Nevada.