Gina Silvagni Perry, a lifetime resident of Las Vegas and granddaughter of pioneer Peter “P.O.” Silvagni, builder of the historic Apache Hotel, began her extensive real estate career in 1980. In 1996, Gina became the owner/broker of Heritage Realty Co., the company her mother, Olivia Silvagni, established in 1969. Heritage Realty Co. remains the longest continuously operating female owned, family owned real estate company in Las Vegas.

After semi-retiring from real estate, Gina finally found the time to write down the amazing journey of her grandfather’s life, which became her passion. She knew that if she did not preserve his legacy, an important chapter of her family’s history and Las Vegas’s history could be lost forever.

Through meticulous research, Gina tracked her grandfather’s life in Italy, where she uncovered dramatic events including the cold blooded murder of his sixteen-year-old brother and the difficult circumstances that followed. After immigrating to the United States from Italy in 1905, P.O. overcame many challenges that would have crushed others, ultimately achieving the American Dream through hard work and determination.

History chose to overlook Peter “P.O.” Silvagni and his transformation of Las Vegas during the Great Depression of 1929 and the 1930s decade. He wasn’t just a supporting character in the story of Las Vegas; he was one of its architects. This work is Gina’s tribute to a man whose life journey helped shape her family and the amazing city she calls home.