With Professor David G. Schwartz, we take a historical excursus on the “birth” of Nevada as the main point of reference in the world for gambling.

When most people think of the City of Las Vegas, they think of the iconic Strip lined with dozens of hotels and casinos and the iconic "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign. Clark County Commission Chair Tick Segerblom says what may surprise many is that the famous sign is a bit misleading, as it and the entire so-called Las Vegas Strip reside within unincorporated Clark County.

Hey, we have to hide the tapes. For a time in the mid-2000s, The Mirage housed the most famous music catalog in history and hardly anyone knew it.

Hey, you’ve got to hide your tapes away. For a time in the mid-2000s, The Mirage housed the most famous music catalog in history and hardly anyone knew. The Beatles’ master tapes were reportedly kept in tightly guarded vault backstage at Love Theater, during the early days of “Love” at the hotel. Word of the history of these tapes made the rounds as the show closed July 7, and the hotel itself shut down July 17. Cirque PR rep Ann Paladie has not verified the history of the tapes related to the production.

The Shag Room, with its Moroccan theme, is a throwback to another era in Las Vegas when intimate casino lounge venues kick-started a night of entertainment. On Wednesday nights, the lounge’s open mic supports four hours of singers from country to rock to pop rap and R&B, with no cover charge or drink minimum.

As The Mirage closes its doors Wednesday to make way for the renovation and construction of the Hard Rock Las Vegas property, UNLV professor and gaming historian Dr. David Schwartz joined ARC Las Vegas to share his perspective on the changing skyline of the Las Vegas Strip.

Archived footage from 8 News Now captures a beaming Steven Wynn – standing with a white tiger cub and Siegfried & Roy – at The Mirage opening in November 1989. He was filmed saying the new hotel and casino would “become a standard.” That statement became reality, per its history as seen through the eyes of historians and those who lived it. Hours of other VHS footage capture the electric opening ceremony, along with weeks of stalled traffic and hordes of guests around it.

The Mirage, an iconic hotel and casino in Las Vegas that opened in 1989, is set to close its doors for good next week — but must first hand out around $1.6 million in cash and prizes. NBC’s Morgan Chesky reports for TODAY.