International Workers' Day

International Workers' Day, celebrated on May 1, is an annual holiday to celebrate the achievements of workers. Also known as Labor Day in many countries, it was related in the labor union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement that advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest in one day. In Canada and the United States, it is celebrated on the first Monday of September, marking the end of the summer holiday when most students return to school.

The featured postcard was purchased from the National Geographic store at zazzle.com, showing construction workers on beams at the top of the Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas. Copyright: Paul Chesley / National Geographic Stock.

A View from the top of the Stratosphere Tower

Scale the Strat

Scale the Strat is one of the Fight for Air Climbs fundraising events for the American Lung Association. The Fight for Air Climbers climb up prominent skyscrapers, observation towers, stadiums and arenas in so called "vertical road race." 

In the 7th Annual Scale the Strat today, competitive teams and individual stair climbers, race up 1455 steps inside the Stratosphere Tower core to reach the Level 108 observation deck, raising funds to provide life saving education, research and advocacy in Southern Nevada. Sproule Love from New York won the men's division with a 7'22" time. Stephanie Hucko from Charlotte, NC was the first woman to reach the top in 8'52".

Postcard US-2371131 to Poland shows the Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower at 2000 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89104.

Free Stratosphere Tower Passes for Nevadans

The Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower is once again offering anyone with a Nevada ID a free pass to the top of the iconic landmark from Sunday February. 22 to Saturday February 28, 2015. However, visitors who are under 21 need to be accompanied by an adult.

The pass allows free access to the tower's indoor and outdoor observation decks at Level 108 and Level 109. Guests can also purchase tickets for Skyjump Las Vegas, a 855-foot or 261-meter high speed controlled descent, or the thrill rides X-Scream, Insanity, and Big Shot.

The postcard showing the Stratosphere Tower with the Sheep Range and Las Vegas Range in the background was a private card sent to Taiwan.

Insanity dangles riders over the edge of the tower and spins them in circles at 900 feet or 270 meters above the ground.

Free Ride to the Top

Postcard US-1669739 to Taiwan shows the Stratosphere Tower at 1,149 ft or 350.2 m, the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States, It is also the second tallest freestanding observation tower in the Western Hemisphere, next to the CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario.

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in January, 2014, Nevada residents can get a free Stratosphere Tower pass for access to the indoor and outdoor observation decks with a valid Nevada ID. The general admission would cost $18. The Stratosphere Tower is open from 10 am to 1 am, Sunday to Thursday;  and from 10 am to 2 am, Friday and Saturday.

New Year's Fireworks in Las Vegas

Watching fireworks shot from rooftops at multiple casinos and hotels is an annual tradition of celebrating New Year in Las Vegas. However, during 2008 and 2009, fireworks were banned from rooftops because of a rooftop fire caused by a welding accident at the Monte Carlo on January 25, 2008. As a result, 2009 New Year's Fireworks were set off at ground level on January 1, 2009. After poor reviews from visitors, fireworks returned to rooftops on January 1, 2010 with increased safety precautions.

Postcard US-2133896 to Germany shows the 2013 fireworks at Stratosphere on New Year's Day. This morning I was at Mirage where fireworks from Treasure Island and The Venetian could be seen at the same time. I will see whether I got some good pictures to make postcards.

Countdown to New Year

The countdown to 2014 has begun! In Las Vegas, the biggest party of the year is tonight that include concerts, celebrity-hosted parties. Fireworks will be shot from casino rooftops of Stratosphere Tower, Treasure Island, The Venetian, Caesars Palace, Aria, Planet Hollywood, and MGM Grant. New to this year: a special "count up" to midnight, on the side of the Stratosphere Tower, will start 10 seconds before midnight.

Postcard US-2025670 to Belarus shows the fireworks from Stratosphere on January 1, 2013.

New Year's Fireworks at the Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas

New Year's Fireworks at the Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas 

Watching fireworks to ring in the New Year is perfect; Watching the fireworks shooting from a 1149-foot (350-meter)-tall tower is even better. At midnight on the New Year's Evening, fireworks were launched  from the Stratosphere Tower along with six other casinos and hotels: MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, and the Venetian. In all, more than 80,000 fireworks were on display named "America's Party" as 330,000 visitors were celebrating the beginning of 2013 in Las Vegas.

Update: This postcard was later sent as: US-2160260, US-2055998, US-2074542

A similar version was sent as US-2022384

You can customize and purchase this postcard at Zazzle.com.