In the latest meeting of the 1 October Memorial Committee, a design concept was chosen to honor the victims of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. The selected concept will feature fifty-eight towering beams, symbolizing the toll of lives lost during the Las Vegas Strip massacre in October 2017.
The shooting occurred when a gunman opened fire from a high-rise suite at the Mandalay Bay Hotel, targeting people attending a country music festival below. Two people initially survived but succumbed to their injuries in subsequent years.
The 1 October Memorial Committee has been working on the planning process for over three years, and the recent announcement marks a significant milestone in their efforts. The chosen design, created by local firm JCJ Architecture, envisions a park shaped like an infinity symbol on the northeast corner of the concert venue where the tragic festival took place.
The design incorporates 22,000 lights, representing the number of concertgoers present that night. A winding path will lead visitors through a garden area, past a 58-foot (18-meter) glass tower, and towards a “remembrance ring” adorned with the 58 candle-like beams. Each beam will display the name and photograph of one of the victims, ensuring their memory is forever cherished.
The emotional meeting witnessed heartfelt testimonies from committee members, including Mynda Smith, who expressed her belief that the memorial would become a symbol of beauty, healing, and love. Smith’s sister, Neysa Tonks, was among the victims killed in the shooting.
The committee is set to present its full recommendation, including an alternate design, to the Clark County Commission in September. The proposed memorial will stand separately from a community healing garden that volunteers built in downtown Las Vegas in the days following the shooting.
