There was a time when Las Vegas was quick to demolish pieces of its history in favor of something shiny and new. I don’t think the city is completely past that, but it’s slowed considerably, especially in the downtown area.

In recent years, we’ve become more attached to older buildings and signage, preserving, enhancing, and in many cases, reimagining them for new businesses. One of today’s best examples is the Fergusons Motel on Fremont Street. Originally built for post-WWII families who were taking to the road, the property – known at the time as the Franklin Motel – eventually fell victim to the same economic misfortune and rising crime that plagued downtown from the 1970s to the early 2000s.

Now the motel has been given a new life by the Downtown Project. On Vegas Seven sister site, DTLV.com, I explored the history of the Fergusons and spoke with, among others, the surviving family of its original owners. Through these interviews, we explored Las Vegas’ days as a boomtown, what led to the downtown bust, and how committed people are to preserving the motel’s legacy.