A Las Vegas neighborhood that time forgot…

If you head east on Charleston past Boulder Highway you will come up to 28th Street. At one time this was one of the roughest neighborhoods in the city. Home to the 28th Street gang and not the place you want to be caught in after dark. Its still can be a rough place. Historically the neighborhood was one of the first places African-Americans, Hispanics and other minorities were relegated to before the Westside became the minority canton. The neighborhood is located directly behind Ralph Jones Display, the fabulous store that sells all the Christmas decorations.

For many years this area was home to the Las Vegas Armory now the East Las Vegas Senior Center, army barracks and Sunrise Acres Elementary School. In the 1970’s the barracks were converted to low rent housing. Eventually Sunrise Acres was closed and converted to a bus yard for the Clark County School District. South of the old school along Sunrise Avenue there are a series of little streets; 26th Street, 27th Street, 28th Street, etc.. Along these streets you will see a collection of very old wooden houses that date back to the early part of the 20th Century. Some of the houses still have front porches and verandas. What will catch your eye are the enormous cotton wood trees. Some of the trees completely shelter these little houses from the sun and are probably close to 100 years old.

To my pleasant surprise along 26th Street one of the old 1908 Railroad Cottages was moved from Downtown proper. The date of the cottage being moved is not known but it was nice to see that one is still being used as a home. Many of the original cottages were demolished to make way for high-rise development; some were moved to the Springs Preserve, Clark County Museum and or converted into businesses and a wedding chapel.

When visiting the 28th Street neighborhood please be vigilant and do not go alone…

Safe Travels

Paco