Meet 11 Casino Pioneers Above Downtown Las Vegas
The Las Vegas Founding Fathers display features 11 metal busts near the entrance to Legacy Club, Circa Resort & Casino’s rooftop cocktail lounge on the 60th floor. Circa uses the “Founding Fathers” title to honor casino operators, resort developers, investors, and hospitality leaders who influenced the growth of modern Las Vegas.
This is not a traditional museum or a display about the people who formally founded the City of Las Vegas. It is a brief casino-history stop that works best for adults already visiting Circa or Legacy Club. Guests admitted to the lounge can view the busts without purchasing a separate attraction ticket.
Adults looking for unusual free things to do in Las Vegas can pair the display with Circa’s gold-bar exhibit, the Crazy Girls statue, and the rooftop views from Legacy Club.
Last reviewed: July 20, 2026. Legacy Club hours, admission policies, dress requirements, special-event charges, capacity restrictions, and access to the display can change.
Founding Fathers Busts Quick Facts
- Cost: There is no separate attraction ticket for the bust display. Legacy Club entry remains subject to current lounge policies, capacity, private events, and special-event charges.
- Location: Near the entrance to Legacy Club on the 60th floor of Circa Resort & Casino.
- Address: 8 Fremont Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101
- Current Hours: Sunday through Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.; Friday and Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.
- Age Requirement: Circa is a 21-and-older property. Every visitor must present valid identification to enter.
- Dress Code: Upscale nightlife attire is strongly encouraged. Sports attire, athleisure, casual loungewear, and swimwear are not permitted.
- Time Needed: A brief stop for the busts alone; longer if you stay for drinks, the gold display, or the rooftop view.
- Best For: Adults interested in casino history, vintage Las Vegas, rooftop lounges, and unusual photo stops.
- What Costs Extra: Cocktails, reserved seating, sunset packages, parking, special events, and other purchases.
- Parking: Circa Resort & Casino has paid self-parking and valet parking. Review the Las Vegas parking fees guide before visiting.
What to Expect at the Display
The busts greet visitors after they reach Legacy Club on Circa’s 60th floor. Black-and-white photographs and painted portraits continue the lounge’s old-Las-Vegas theme before guests reach its cocktail areas, gold display, and outdoor terrace.
The display contains 11 individualized metal likenesses. Each represents a figure Circa associates with the development of Las Vegas casinos, themed resorts, large-scale entertainment, convention business, or the growth of local gaming companies.
The exhibit is small and should not be mistaken for a complete history of Las Vegas. It does not include the Indigenous history of the region, the city’s formal founders, or every business and community leader who helped shape Southern Nevada.
Visitors may take a closer look at each likeness and use Circa’s official Founding Fathers guide to read longer profiles of the people represented.
Who Is Honored by the Busts?
- Barron Hilton: The hotel executive who led Hilton Hotels and expanded the company into Las Vegas through properties including the Flamingo Hilton and Las Vegas Hilton.
- Benny Binion: The Downtown casino operator who founded Binion’s Horseshoe and helped establish high-stakes gambling and poker as major Las Vegas attractions.
- Bob Stupak: The casino promoter behind Vegas World who spearheaded the project that became the Stratosphere, now known as The STRAT.
- Frank Fertitta Jr.: The casino executive who founded the locals-focused company that became Station Casinos.
- Howard Hughes: The business magnate, filmmaker, and aviator who acquired several Las Vegas hotel-casinos and other Nevada holdings beginning in the 1960s.
- Jackie Gaughan: A longtime Downtown casino owner associated with the El Cortez, Las Vegas Club, Western, Gold Spike, and several other properties.
- Jay Sarno: The resort developer who created Caesars Palace and later opened Circus Circus with business partner Stanley Mallin.
- Kirk Kerkorian: The investor and resort developer associated with the International Hotel and multiple generations of MGM Grand properties.
- Sam Boyd: The casino operator who co-founded Boyd Gaming with his son Bill Boyd and developed properties serving both visitors and Las Vegas residents.
- Steve Wynn: The casino developer associated with the Golden Nugget, The Mirage, Treasure Island, Bellagio, Wynn Las Vegas, and Encore.
- William Bennett: The casino executive who helped build Circus Circus Enterprises, developed Excalibur and Luxor, and later owned the Sahara.
What Else Can You See at Legacy Club?
Circa Gold-Bar Display
Legacy Club also contains 500 custom Circa gold bars totaling 1,000 ounces. Each bar carries the Circa logo and an engraved number, while a nearby ticker displays the collection’s changing value based on the current gold price.
Crazy Girls Statue
Before taking the express elevator upstairs, visitors can see the Crazy Girls statue at the Level 1 Legacy Club entrance. The bronze sculpture originally stood outside the Riviera and depicts performers from the long-running Crazy Girls revue.
Rooftop Views
Legacy Club includes an indoor cocktail lounge and outdoor terrace with elevated views across Downtown Las Vegas, the Strip, and the surrounding valley. Access to specific tables, fire pits, or reserved viewing areas may require a purchase or reservation.
How to Find the Founding Fathers Busts
Enter Circa Resort & Casino at 8 Fremont Street and follow signs for Legacy Club. The lounge uses a dedicated entrance and express elevator, with the Crazy Girls statue positioned near the Level 1 entry area.
After the elevator reaches the 60th floor, look for the metal busts and historical artwork near the Legacy Club entrance. Because the display is part of an operating lounge, access may be limited during private functions, ticketed events, capacity restrictions, or venue closures.
Circa’s rideshare area is inside Garage Mahal. Confirm the current pickup or drop-off point in the app and review the Las Vegas Ride Share Guide before visiting.
Tips Before You Go
- Bring valid identification: Circa does not admit anyone younger than 21, including visitors who only want to see the display.
- Follow the dress code: Avoid athletic clothing, casual loungewear, swimwear, and other attire that may not meet Legacy Club’s current nightlife standards.
- Visit after the lounge opens: The busts are inside the Legacy Club entrance area and are not available as a 24-hour casino-floor display.
- Check for special events: Private parties, holidays, fireworks nights, and ticketed programs can affect entry, seating, operating hours, and cover charges.
- Ask before using professional equipment: Casual personal photos may be practical, but do not block the entrance, elevator area, walkways, or other guests.
- Treat it as a short add-on: The busts alone are not a full museum attraction. They are most worthwhile when combined with the gold bars, rooftop view, cocktails, or another Downtown stop.
- Confirm current policies: Review the official Legacy Club listing before making a special trip.
Las Vegas Founding Fathers Busts FAQ
Q: Are the Las Vegas Founding Fathers busts free to see?
A: The display does not have a separate attraction ticket. However, guests must be admitted to Legacy Club, and special events, capacity limits, private functions, or current venue policies may affect access.
Q: Where are the busts located?
A: They are near the entrance to Legacy Club on the 60th floor of Circa Resort & Casino in Downtown Las Vegas.
Q: Can anyone enter Circa to see them?
A: No. Circa is entirely restricted to guests age 21 or older, and valid identification is required.
Q: Is there a dress code?
A: Yes. Legacy Club strongly encourages upscale nightlife attire and does not permit sports attire, athleisure, casual loungewear, or swimwear.
Q: Are these the literal founders of Las Vegas?
A: No. “Founding Fathers” is Circa’s name for 11 casino, resort, and hospitality figures it credits with influencing the development of modern Las Vegas.
Q: How many busts are in the display?
A: The exhibit contains 11 metal busts.
Q: Is the display appropriate for children?
A: No. Circa Resort & Casino and Legacy Club are restricted to guests age 21 or older.
Q: Is it worth a special trip?
A: The busts are best as a short addition to a Legacy Club or Circa visit. Casino-history enthusiasts may appreciate them, but the display is not large enough to function as a complete stand-alone museum attraction.
