Las Vegas, Nevada
North Wind Resource Consulting prepared the nomination for the historic Christensen House to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This project was part of a larger historic resource survey in the historic African American westside neighborhood of Las Vegas.
Built in 1938 by prominent African American couple Leroy and Carrie Christensen, the Christensen House stands as an enduring testament to the neighborhood’s heritage. Today, the house is one of the earliest and most visually striking examples of middle-class residential construction remaining in the neighborhood.
In recognition of its historical significance and community value, the National Park Service (NPS) recently listed the house in the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register recognizes places that are of historic and cultural significance and unlocks opportunities for grant funding and tax incentives aimed at preserving and protecting these special sites. The project was funded by an Underrepresented Communities grant from the NPS.
The Christensen House, characterized by its unique French Eclectic architectural style, boasts notable features such as a stone tower crowned with a conical roof, a substantial stone chimney, and rusticated concrete block walls. Serving as one of the first permanent residences in the neighborhood, the house embodies the way in which the newly emerging and economically empowered African American middle class worked to develop their own version of suburban homeownership amidst an era marked by widespread discrimination and residential segregation in other parts of the city. The Christensen’s stylish residence frequently hosted neighborhood events and functioned as a social hub for middle-class African Americans in the Westside. Today, the house is cared for by its current owner, Las Vegas Catholic Worker, whose mission centers around social justice and assisting the poor.
