Early this morning, the Stardust Hotel and Casino was demolished, leaving behind a rich part of the history of Las Vegas. The demolition ended a yearlong goodbye to the classic 48-year-old resort that was considered in its glory days the ultimate in opulence and style.

Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack were regulars of the Stardust and it was the original home of the illusionist duo Siegfried and Roy. The venue was also the scenario of organized crime activities that inspired the book and movie “Casino”.

The Stardust was demolished to make way for a $4 billion complex called Echelon, which will have 5,300 rooms, due to be built by 2010. Hundreds of guests and corporate officials watched the demolition from a parking lot on The Strip.

Four grandsons of William Boyd, Boyd’s chief executive, were in charge of pushing a wooden lever that ordered the demolition crew to begin the series of dynamite explosions.

“Unlike most other cities, we in Las Vegas reinvent ourselves all the time,” Mr. Boyd said. “In order to keep up with the competition, you have to keep improving your product. That’s what we’re going to do here at the Stardust. But we still have great memories.”