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About HARRISON HOUSE

Location:

1001 F ST, LAS VEGAS, NV 89106, US

Mission Statement

The Harrison House is a 501 (c)(3) is a charitable organization dedicated to the preservation and sharing of African American history and The Historic Westside in Las Vegas and the promotion of neighborhood improvement for economic development.

Description

In 1942, Genevieve Harrison opened her home to traveling enterrainers, business people, and divorcing couples who were unable to stay at Las Vegas strip hotels due to segregation laws. Nat King Cole, Pearl Bailey, and Sammy Davis Jr. ( a visitor so frequesnt that there is a room named after him). In the course of one week in 1949 the house was graced with Eddie (Rochester) Anderson, singer Bob Parrish, the Edwards Sisters, the Jubalaires and musician Arthur Lee Simpkins. The Harrison House is one of the last standing examples of a Las Vegas boarding house.

The Harrison House still functions as a gathering place. To look towards the future, one primary goal is to renovate the Harrison House as a certifiable LEED Green Historic Building. Now a cultural center, we at the Harrison House seek to share the history of this house and the surrounding Historic Westside to any inquisitive traveler.