The New Deal in the New West: On the Road with Arthur Rothstein in Nevada 

September 27, 2025 – March 23, 2026

What if you could see the moment Las Vegas began transforming into the city we know today?

In 1940, Nevada stood at a turning point. The mining boom towns of the Old West were fading, and a new kind of economy was emerging—one built on recreation and tourism. Through President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs, federal investment poured into the state during the Great Depression, paving roads, constructing public buildings, and planting the seeds of what would become a thriving travel and leisure destination.

This powerful new exhibit offers a window into that moment in time.

“The New Deal in the New West: On the Road with Arthur Rothstein in Nevada” invites you to experience Las Vegas in 1940, when award-winning photojournalist Arthur Rothstein journeyed across the state for the U.S. Farm Security Administration. His photos—35 of which are featured in the exhibit—document southern Nevada on the verge of change.

Alongside his stunning imagery, the exhibit features Rothstein’s personal belongings—his camera, tripod, even the camp stove he used on the road—offering a rare and intimate look at the man behind the lens. This exhibit explores the legacy of FDR’s New Deal, how it shaped Las Vegas, and the personal story of Rothstein, a Jewish-American photographer whose work continues to inspire.

Presented in partnership with the Library of Congress, The Arthur Rothstein Legacy Project, and Friends of the Museum. Sponsored in part by the The City of Las Vegas Centennial Commission. What if you could see the moment Las Vegas began transforming into the city we know today?

Presented in partnership with the Library of Congress, The Arthur Rothstein Legacy Project, and Friends of the Museum.

Sponsored in part by the The City of Las Vegas Centennial Commission.