The tradition of “Senior Squares” was created one night in 1941 when two students pulled a prank and painted one of the cement slabs in front of the main steps of the original Las Vegas High School. Expressing innocence the next morning when called into principale Maude Frazier’s office, the painter looked down and saw paint splatters on his shoes. Luckily, Principal Maude Frazier liked the idea and decided the Art Guild should carry-on the project in subsequent years.
Ensuing senior clases created their own squares. Over the years, seniors had so much pride in their squares that underclassmen who dared walk on them had to clean the squares with a toothbrush. In 1980, the squares were removed. This caused a huge uproar with LVHS alumni, and after a “protest square” was painted, the squares were re-created in “Pebble Tech”, which was also used for new squares until 1988. By 2000, the squares deteriorated and many were barely recognizable.
Spear-headed by the Class of 1970, the “Senior Squares Committee,” all Las Vegas High School alumni, was formed in 2000 to re-create the squares as close as possible to their original colors and design. Because there were originally no squares for the classes during the WWII years (1942-1945), special squares were designed to honor the graduates of those years.
The restoration project and on-going maintenance was funded by a grant from the State of Nevada and by many individual donations of funds, time, labor, and materials.
The “Senior Squares” are an important part of Las Vegas history. It is hoped that the restored “Senior Squares” will be maintained for all ages to come.