May 11, 2005

MAYOR OSCAR GOODMAN TO SPOTLIGHT HISTORIC DOWNTOWN POST OFFICE/FEDERAL COURTHOUSE BUILDING OPEN SPECIAL DURING MAY FOR CENTENNIAL CULTURAL EVENTS

WHAT: Las Vegas' most treasured community landmark, the downtown historic Post Office/Federal Courthouse, will be open to public for a rare glimpse of its history and to celebrate the cultural side of the Las Vegas Centennial celebration.

Many historic and notorious court cases, including the U.S. Senate Special Committee to Investigate Crime in Interstate Crime- known as the Kefauver Committee, which ironically gave Las Vegas a national strong hold on legalized gambling, were held in the Federal Courthouse.

Throughout birthday month, the Downtown Post Office is also open to the public free of charge and features ³Vegas VIP², an exhibit featuring artifacts, historic photographs and vintage postcards as well as offers weekly ³Community Conversations² hosted by well-known historians about the evolution of Las Vegas. Docent tours available upon request.

When the doors close at the end of May, the Post Office will be closed permanently for renovation and transformation into a museum and cultural facility to be known as the POST Modern. The venue will capitalize on the history of the building and downtown with a focus on the 1930's-1960's popular culture.

WHO: Mayor Oscar Goodman, Las Vegas Centennial Chairman
Michael Green, CCSN historian
Brian Alverez, VIP Vegas Exhibit Curator

WHEN: Wednesday, May 11 from 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

WHERE: Downtown historic post office at 301 East Stewart Ave.
(Parking behind the post office, entrance in front of building)