Las Vegas High School

Las Vegas High School Academic Building and Gymnasium

"As the population of Las Vegas increased throughout the 1920s and the construction of Hoover Dam was assured, many saw the need for a new high school. Principal Maude Frazier overcame public criticism that the location was "too far out of town." Despite opposition, she led a successful bond measure to pay for the school. This noteworthy example of Art Deco architecture was completed in 1930 for $350,000. The new school reflected the growth and maturation of Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Academy now occupies the Las Vegas High School. The building is listed on the local and National Register of Historic Places."

(Las Vegas Centennial Commission)

"The tradition of “Senior Squares” was created one night in 1941 when two students pulled a prank and painted one of the cement slabs in front of the main steps of the original Las Vegas High School. Expressing innocence the next morning when called into Principal Maude Frazier’s office, the painter looked down and saw paint splatters on his shoes. Luckily, Principal Maude Frazier liked the idea and decided the Art Guild should carry-on the project in subsequent years.

Ensuing senior classes created their own squares. Over the years, seniors had so much pride in their squares that underclassmen who dared walk on them had to clean the squares with a toothbrush. In 1980, the squares were removed. This caused a huge uproar with LNHS alumni, and after a “protest square” was painted, the squares were re-created in “Pebble Tech”, which was also used for new squares until 1988. By 2000, the squares deteriorated and many were barely recognizable.

Spear-headed by the Class of 1970, the “Senior Squares Committee,” all Las Vegas High School alumni, was formed in 2000 to recreate the squares as close as possible to their original colors and design. Because there were originally no squares for the classes during the WWII years (1942-1945), special squares were designed to honor the graduates of those years.

The restoration project and on-going maintenance was funded by a grant from the State of Nevada and by many individual donations of funds, time, labor and materials.

The “Senior Squares” are an important part of Las Vegas history. It is hoped that the restored “Senior Squares” will be maintained for all ages to come."

(Las Vegas High School)

Notable Alumni: Lieutenant William Harrell Nellis (namesake of Nellis Airforce Base), Betty Jane Willis (designer of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign).

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (Academic Building, Gymnasium: 1986).

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a U.S. Historic District Contributing Property (Las Vegas High School Neighborhood Historic District: 1991).

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (Frazier Hall: 2021).

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a U.S. Historic District (Las Vegas High School Historic District: 2022).

Listed on the City of Las Vegas Historic Property Register in 2003.

Located in the Las Vegas High School Neighborhood Historic District.

Located at 315 South 7th Street, Las Vegas, Nevada.