The murals pictured above were painted by a gentleman who fell in love with one of the working girls at the Big 4. These murals are still in the bar and date back to the 1930's. The scenes depicted are from the Red Light District of Place Pigalle in Paris, France
Above Left picture is the Big 4 Ranch when the name was O'NIELL'S. Above right picture is the Walt Savers Band that Played at The Big Ranch from 1930 1935.
Original art painted by Boots Miller decorated the walls and he stated that Frank Sinatra would often fly in to visit the establishment for privacy and to get away from the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas.
The west end of High Street has been an active location for brothels since Ely first became a real community in 1887 when the county seat was moved to Ely from Hamilton. By 1906, several brothels were built in the west end of town with cribs, dance halls, and saloons stretching three blocks on either side of High Street. Tom O'Nell's early day brothel was located where the present Armory building is situated at the end of Broadbent Park. The individual crib was just big enough for a "Dutch" door and a tiny window. Each tiny crib barely had enough room for a bed and a stove for warmth and heating water for washing. Remnants of some of the cribs may be seen today at this end of the street
The oldest brothel in Ely is the Big 4 and the part of the building where the bar is located is thought to have been built in the early 1880's. This establishment was once called "Rainey's" in 1880. It was owned by Tom O'Neil for many years during the early 1900's. This business has had several names until around the 1930's when it gained the name Big 4 because four prominent businessmen purchased it and ran it. The proceeding owners have continued to call it by that name.
A little known fact: At Christmas time, vari-colored lights are strung diagonally across Aultman Street in Ely, Nevada. The last string of lights on the west end of the street is made up of all red bulbs and points to the brothel district. Because it is against the law to advertise brothels in White Pine County, this is a subtle way that the businesses are acknowledged.