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Vegas Retold
Caesars Palace and its fountains, seen from Las Vegas Boulevard in April 2026. Illustration adapted from a photograph by Christian David.

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Caesars Palace

Opened August 5, 1966

A Roman fantasy on the Strip, built to make the setting part of the attraction.

Start with its history

Caesars Palace and its fountains, seen from Las Vegas Boulevard in April 2026. Illustration adapted from a photograph by Christian David.

A palace built around an idea.

A brief history of Caesars Palace

Aerial postcard of early Caesars Palace, with its hotel, fountains and grounds surrounded by desert.

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Caesars Palace on a postcard postmarked 13 March 1970; the photograph may be earlier.

Caesars Palace opened on August 5, 1966, as a resort built to make its setting part of the attraction. Its opening material carried the Roman idea through the architecture, statuary, staff costumes, dining rooms, stationery and even the voice used to address guests. UNLV's Jay Sarno archive calls it the first truly themed resort on the Las Vegas Strip.

That distinction matters because Caesars offered more than a decorated casino. It invited visitors to step into a complete fantasy of imperial attention and abundance. The approach anticipated the immersive themed resorts that later reshaped the Strip.

Read the full history
Sources and context

  1. Caesars Palace opening invitation (1966)

    UNLV Digital ID jhp000362, transcription

  2. Caesars Palace guest booklet (1966)

    UNLV Digital ID jhp000361, transcription

  3. Jay Sarno Papers biographical note

    Biographical / Historical Note

  4. Caesars Palace opening press kit (1966)

    UNLV Digital ID jhp000357, opening press kit transcription

  5. Las Vegas entertainment listing (September 1970)

    Newspaper p. 11, Caesars Palace entertainment listing for September 3–16, 1970

“First truly themed resort” is UNLV's characterization; earlier Strip properties used architectural motifs, and the distinction here is the degree of resort-wide theming.

The 1966 tract description and the current main assessed parcel map point refer to different extents. The point is area-precision and does not indicate a building, entrance, route, or safe public-access point.

The 1966 invitation, press kit and guest booklet are promotional primary sources that establish the resort's presentation, not neutral verification of every promise.

The people behind the palace.

Stories connected to Caesars Palace

Black-and-white portrait of Frank Sinatra wearing a hat at Capitol Studios, circa 1957.

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He Pulled a Gun on Frank Sinatra — and Caesars Fired Him for It

Sinatra at Caesars Palace

This Story is not currently available to read.

An entertainment listing scheduled Frank Sinatra at Caesars Palace in September 1970. This Story recounts his confrontation with Sanford Waterman.

Explore the area.

Take the stories for a walk.

Two ways to explore Caesars Palace

Illustration of the historic Flamingo entrance, pink roadside pylon, low hotel frontage and tall palms.

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Strip Mob Walk

Themed tour 46 stops Audio narration

Compare all tours including Caesars Palace

Free audio samples are available here. See each tour for current app and Pass options.

A few things worth noticing.

Individual stops at Caesars Palace. Open a detail to see where it belongs.

The emperor’s lucky hand

Forum Food Hall vicinity / earlier Augustus Free audio
Bronze Augustus statue with a raised arm and Cupid at his feet, standing on a marble pedestal beneath a circular painted ceiling at Caesars Palace.

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The Augustus statue at Caesars Palace.

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Read the transcript

Every palace needs its emperor. Caesars’ original Augustus greeted guests at the entrance from 1966, with one arm raised as though he had a few words for everyone coming through the door. He is modelled on the Augustus of Prima Porta, the ancient Roman statue with Cupid riding a dolphin at its feet. But this emperor has a distinctly Vegas occupation: he is one of Caesars’ four lucky rubs. Guests have polished his hand with decades of hopeful attention. When the main entrance was rebuilt in 2022, a new, 15-foot Augustus took the starring position beneath a chandelier of 70,000 crystals. The earlier statue moved away from the entrance. A grander emperor now handles the arrivals, but the old host still has his hand out.

Before you stop

Inside Caesars, follow signs for the food hall and look for the smaller Augustus with a raised arm. If it is absent, ask staff for the original Augustus.

Use public paths, keep doorways and queues clear, and respect posted restrictions. View objects without touching.

Access alternative

Follow signs for a step-free public approach or lift. If you cannot reach the viewing area, enjoy the story from a nearby public seating area.

Find this stop in the tour

The room the palace grew around

Main casino / gaming-room view Pass required
Caesars Palace casino dome after the 2022 entrance remodel.

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Caesars Palace casino dome after the 2022 entrance remodel.

The full stop is part of the Vegas Retold Pass. See the tour for current access options.

Before you stop

Casino gaming areas are 21+. Use designated public through-routes; keep clear of games and customer queues. Follow staff directions; photographs require permission where restricted.

Access alternative

Follow signs for a step-free public approach or lift. If you cannot reach the viewing area, enjoy the story from a nearby public seating area.

Find this stop in the tour

A little Las Beygas

Roman Plaza / Spanish Steps Pass required
Spanish Steps Bar beside the outdoor steps at Caesars Palace.

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Spanish Steps Bar beside the outdoor steps at Caesars Palace.

The full stop is part of the Vegas Retold Pass. See the tour for current access options.

Before you stop

Use public paths, keep doorways and queues clear, and respect posted restrictions. View objects without touching.

Access alternative

Follow signs for a step-free public approach or lift. If you cannot reach the viewing area, enjoy the story from a nearby public seating area.

Location checked September 28, 2026.

Find this stop in the tour
Explore all 15 stops

Find the place.

Caesars Palace

The original resort stood on a 34-acre tract along Las Vegas Boulevard, opposite the Flamingo and beside the Dunes. For map display, Caesars Palace may be represented at 36.1170636, -115.1763000, the Clark County GIS centroid of the main current assessed Caesars Palace parcel; the point is property-scale and does not identify the original 1966 footprint, the full modern resort, or an entrance.

The map identifies the property area. It does not identify an entrance or a walking route.

View the site on a map

Find your stop

Follow current signs and venue restrictions. Individual stops carry their own location and access notes.

See stop access information

Follow the evidence.

Sources, image credits and the limits of what we know.

Historical sources5 documents and records

  1. Caesars Palace opening invitation (1966)

    UNLV Digital ID jhp000362, transcription

  2. Caesars Palace guest booklet (1966)

    UNLV Digital ID jhp000361, transcription

  3. Jay Sarno Papers biographical note

    Biographical / Historical Note

  4. Caesars Palace opening press kit (1966)

    UNLV Digital ID jhp000357, opening press kit transcription

  5. Las Vegas entertainment listing (September 1970)

    Newspaper p. 11, Caesars Palace entertainment listing for September 3–16, 1970

What remains uncertain3 notes on context and interpretation
  • “First truly themed resort” is UNLV's characterization; earlier Strip properties used architectural motifs, and the distinction here is the degree of resort-wide theming.
  • The 1966 tract description and the current main assessed parcel map point refer to different extents. The point is area-precision and does not indicate a building, entrance, route, or safe public-access point.
  • The 1966 invitation, press kit and guest booklet are promotional primary sources that establish the resort's presentation, not neutral verification of every promise.
Image credits8 images with source information

Caesars Palace and its fountains, seen from Las Vegas Boulevard in April 2026. Illustration adapted from a photograph by Christian David.

Illustration adapted using AI from ‘Caesars Palace and fountains, Las Vegas - April 2026’ by Christian David / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Rendering and colours changed.

Source reference: Existing Media Library illustration and retained source provenance. Named source photograph is the adaptation basis. Illustrative simplification is not current wayfinding or archival evidence.

License

Illustration adapted using AI; rendering, colours and fine detail simplified. Original source perspective and major architecture interpreted.

CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/. Retain source attribution and licence link, indicate AI adaptation and simplified detail. Distribute this adaptation under the same or compatible share-alike licence.

Image source ↗

Caesars Palace on a postcard postmarked 13 March 1970; the photograph may be earlier.

Desert Supply Company, Las Vegas, via Wikimedia Commons.

Source reference: Wikimedia Commons scan of a postcard postmarked 13 March 1970. The postmark dates the card's use, not necessarily the photograph.

Stored scan shown without image edits.

Commons records US public-domain status for publication without a copyright notice. Status outside the US is not established here. Retain source credit and the postmark/photograph-date distinction.

Image source ↗

Frank Sinatra at Capitol Studios, circa 1957. This portrait predates the 1970 Caesars confrontation.

Capitol Records, via Wikimedia Commons; scan cropped and retouched by Blz 2049.

Source reference: Commons scan of the portrait published in DownBeat in 1957 and a United Artists publicity edition in 1959; individual photographer not identified.

Cropped, upscaled and retouched by Commons uploader Blz 2049; no further image edits.

Commons records US public-domain status from non-renewal for the portions published in 1957 and 1959. Status elsewhere is not established here. The repository scan was cropped, upscaled and retouched before ingestion; no further edits.

Image source ↗

Caesars Palace and its fountains, seen from Las Vegas Boulevard in April 2026. Illustration adapted from a photograph by Christian David.

Illustration adapted from Christian David (Espandero), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Simplified forms, colour and texture; adaptation CC BY-SA 4.0.

Image source ↗

AI illustration of the historic Flamingo entrance and palms, adapted from the user-supplied postcard.

AI-generated illustration / Vegas Retold; adapted from user-supplied reference, original photographer unknown

Image source ↗

The Augustus statue at Caesars Palace.

Photo: Piers

Caesars Palace casino dome after the 2022 entrance remodel.

Caesars Entertainment via BWA

Image source ↗

Spanish Steps Bar beside the outdoor steps at Caesars Palace.

Things To Do In Las Vegas

Image source ↗
Suggest a correction
  • B. B. King

    Nero’s Nook engagement supported by Frank Sinatra

  • Frank Sinatra

    His showroom after leaving the Sands

  • Jay Sarno

    Sarno’s Roman-themed resort, opened in 1966

  • Joe Louis

    Worked as a greeter and is commemorated by a statue

  • Wayne Newton

    A venue in his Las Vegas performing career