"Rhythm and Resilience: Black Vegas" explores African American life in Las Vegas from the arrival of its first Black resident through the 1980s, tracing the impacts of segregation and racial barriers while celebrating the creativity, resilience, and achievements that shaped the city’s character. Beginning with John Howell, the first African American settler, it follows the growth of a downtown Black community and its forced relocation in the early twentieth century to what became the Historic Westside. Despite systemic exclusion, this neighborhood emerged as a vibrant cultural and social hub where residents built businesses, churches, and civic organizations, cultivated music and nightlife that drew world-class performers, and organized for civil rights and equity. By honoring these histories, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the enduring legacy of the African American community and its lasting influence on the identity, spirit, and future of Las Vegas.
The exhibition is curated by Carmen Beals and narrated by Claytee White. The exhibition opens March 12 and closes Aug. 20, 2026.
