Vegas History Week Continues: Block 16

by Bodog Casino | Jul 22 2010

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As soon as Las Vegas, Nevada became a city in 1911 its growth came quicker than a bag of microwave popcorn. However, there are certain sides on Sin City you may not have learned in its almost 100-year history. Namely you may not know about "Block 16."

Block 16's place in Vegas history starts off before Sin City became a city in 1911. In 1905 the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City Railroad auctioned off a whole bunch of land in the Clark Las Vegas town site. At the time two blocks, block 16 and 17, were the only places where liquor was allowed to be sold legally. Two blocks, now you can wander all of Sin City with a bottle of Patron.

Because Block 16 had a "liquor" area it soon became the town's red-light district, becoming infamous in the West for drinking, gambling and prostitution.

In the early 1900s brothels were in the back of Block 16 casinos/saloons called The Arcade, Double O and Star Saloon. They were actually called "Cribs" -- we wonder if MTV knows about the real meaning.

Where Block 16 really thrived was between 1920 and 1933. Prohibition was being enforced state wide, however, many Block 16 spots continued selling liquor in secret to any patron that was buying.

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In the end the death of Block 16's brothels came down to money. Before 1941 Block 16 was mainly ignored by government. The most they would do is have the prostitutes medically checked weekly. However, in 1941 the U.S. Air Force offered to put a base in the area, but would keep Block 16 off limits if prostitution continued. Because of that financial opportunity, city officials quickly took action to ensure they had Army business, raiding the brothels close to the end of that year.

Twenty-two women were arrested on prostitution charges. But the ladies of the night didn't go down without a fight, after posting bail the brothels quickly reopened (we're sure with some Air Force business, too).

Prostitution remained on Block 16 for several weeks until city commissioners voted on January 6, 1942, to cancel the liquor and slot machine licenses for all of the block's saloons. And, like with every party in history, as soon as that was cut out of the daily diet, the brothels quickly shut down.

There were some scattered rooms that harbored prostitution but soon the old buildings that housed these illegal activities were torn down for parking space. Did prostitution completely die in Vegas after Block 16 died? Some of the dudes handing out "private dancer" pamphlets on The Strip today say probably not.