Las Vegas
Who
Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, a Jewish-American mobster who built and opened the Flamingo Hotel, with later Jewish operators such as Moe Dalitz shaping the Strip
When
1946
Where
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Modern Las Vegas as a casino-resort destination was launched in 1946, when Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel — a Jewish-American gangster — built and opened the lavish Flamingo Hotel on what became the Strip. Though a criminal, murdered in 1947, his Flamingo set the template for the glamorous resort city, later expanded by other Jewish operators such as Moe Dalitz. It is noted here as a fact of history, not an endorsement of his crimes.
Part of “The Gifts of the Jews” — verified Jewish contributions to the world, with sources.