Historian David G. Schwartz has relocated a collection of 9/11 memorial items from the Las Vegas Strip to the UNLV Lied Library. These artifacts, which were once displayed on the fencing of the New York-New York Hotel and Casino, include handwritten notes and flags left by mourners in 2001.
The rise of 'Ground Zero West' on the Las Vegas Strip
The New York-New York Hotel and Casino served as an unexpected epicenter for grief in the Mojave Desert following the September 11 attacks. While the resort is famous for its themed architecture—including an imitation of Ellis Island and a faux Statue of Liberty—it became a site of genuine national solidarity during the tragedy. The property even featured a Civil War memorial with a soldier statue that stood as a landmark amidst the desert landscape.
Thousands of people gathered at the property, which locals famously dubbed "Ground Zero West," to leave tributes on its perimeter fencing. As the report notes, these items included flowers, flags, and personal notes that transformed a themed tourist destination into a place of collective mourning. This spontaneous gathering turned a site of spectacle into a symbol of national unity.
Saving shirts and flags from the New York-New York fence
Professor David G. Schwartz, a historian with deep ties to the cultural history of Las Vegas, intervened to save these items after the hotel removed the street-side display. Without his curation, these artifacts—ranging from handwritten tributes to flags—might have been discarded or lost to time. Schwartz's involvement ensured that the emotional weight of the 2001 era was captured for posterity.
One specific artifact mentioned in the report is a shirt that still contains the holes used to fasten it to the hotel's fence during the initial outpouring of grief. This piece, along with other personal effects, provides a tangible link to how the tragedy resonated in Nevada. The items represent the fear and determination of those who gathered in the desert to remember the victims.
A permanent home at the UNLV Lied Library
The collection has now been officially transferred to the Special Collections and Archives department at the UNLV Lied Library .. This move ensures that the artifacts are kept in professional archival conditions rather than being lost to the elements or commercial interests. The relocation marks a significant moment for the university as it preserves contemporary American history .
Researchers, students, and families can now access these items to understand the scale of the tragedy's impact beyond the East Coast.. According to the report, the preservation of these pieces allows for a deeper study of how the events of September 11 resonated within the unique landscape of Las Vegas.
What remains unknown about the hotel's decision to remove the memorial?
While the preservation of these items is a victory for historians, the circumstances surrounding their removal remain unclear. The source mentions the hotel decided to clear the memorial, but it does not specify the motivation behind the decision or whether the hotel initially sought to preserve the items itself. It is also unverified whether the hotel offered the collection to any other local institutions before Schwartz intervened.
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