If there is anything about Las Vegas that deserves to be revered and remembered it is the signs. Thank goodness that someone recognized that fact and built a place to preserve these works of art. The Neon Museum was founded in 1996 and since that time they have sought to maintain and restore the historic signs of Las Vegas.
I visited the Neon Museum many years ago and understood that a lot had changed since then, so I decided to go again on a recent trip. One welcome addition since my last visit was the official La Concha visitor center where you could purchase your tour ticket and wait in air-conditioned comfort for it to begin.
The La Concha was a former motel with an interesting lobby design. The shell was transported to the Neon Museum property to house their visitor center. The majority of the sign collection is from the YESCO (Young Electric Sign Company) boneyard, but private donations have increased its size. The Neon Museum has also restored 12 signs and placed them in downtown Las Vegas.
Want to see the giant skull from the Treasure Island Hotel or the famous Stardust sign? How about the sign from Moulin Rouge, the first integrated resort in Las Vegas? What about the Desert Inn, the Sahara, Binion’s, Fitzgerald’s or the Frontier? Oh, the stories that each of these signs could tell if they could only speak.
A knowledgeable and pleasant tour guide will walk you through the exhibit explaining each sign as you go along. A point I found particularly interesting was about the metal pegs that protrude out of some of the signs.
Apparently back in the day men had to climb those pegs (sans safety harness!) in order to change the bulbs. It must have been before “cherry pickers” were invented. Another interesting point is that even though it is called the Neon Museum, many of the signs are not neon.
A relatively new addition to the museum is the Brilliant display that takes place after dark on a separate lot from the rest of the tour. It is described as "360 degree audiovisual immersion experience". This is an additional cost to the regular tour but it is well worth it. Something called "art projection mapping" manages to turn unrestored signs into dancing spectacles of light. The signs flash to a selection of memory-inducing Vegas themed music. I loved it. I only wish it lasted longer. They give you 20 minutes at the end of the show to wander around and take pictures.
I have tried to analyze why I find historical signs so mesmerizing. There is something about standing before a sign that has existed for many decades that thrills me. I remember visiting Philadelphia once and being so impressed with how that city had managed to preserve its historic areas. There was a street you could visit that looked the same as it had in the 1800’s. Most cities just tear down and build new. I am always happy to find precious artifacts kept intact for all to enjoy. Imagine the people that looked at these signs all these years ago and what life was like for them then. They lived in a completely different world. The preservation of these signs helps us to connect with the people from the past.
If history excites you at all, I highly recommend a visit to the Neon Museum on your next Vegas vacation. The museum is just a few blocks from the Fremont Street Experience downtown. The daytime guided tour takes less than an hour, and the adult price is only $19. (Nighttime tour is $28) They sell a limited number of tickets per tour so if you have a particular time slot in mind be sure to book ahead online on their website. The night tours sell out first.
[Photos: Blonde4ever, Archdaily]
