Vegas Kitsch and the Neon Museum and Boneyard

The neon signs of downtown Las Vegas have illuminated the dark skies of the dusty Mojave Desert for decades. Glimmering, shimmering and beckoning they seduced weary travellers into hotels, motels, bars and casinos and became iconic symbols of the city.

Nowadays the Las Vegas hotels that line the Las Vegas strip are their own advertisements. Think the skyline and roller-coaster of New York New York, the dancing Bellagio fountains, the fun of Treasure Island and the sleek curve of The Wynn which nowadays entice the crowds that the neon signs used to.

The Neon Sign Museum, Las Vegas

But what happened to the iconic neon lights of Las Vegas that once graced the buildings and boulevards of Sin City? Good news! They’ve re-grouped and have gathered in all their paint-peeling, broken-bulb glory and you can now pay a visit to see them in all their kitschy colourfulness at the quirky Neon Museum and Boneyard in Las Vegas.

The museum, a non-profit making organisation, is retirement home to over 150 of the kitschest, iconic and fabulous Las Vegas vintage neon signs from the 1930s to present day. And like all relics they have a story to tell.

Even the visitor centre is a piece of history; in a previous life it was the space-aged shaped La Concha Motel lobby built in 1961 in the Googie style of architecture. It was saved from demolition and moved to the current site in 2006 and became the gateway to the ‘boneyard’ an outdoor storage lot where the lost and forgotten neon signs of Vegas languish in the coolest of curated collections. The Neon Boneyard.

The Neon Boneyard

Our guided tour of the boneyard was let by Carrie, our fun tour guide, on a tour that lasted one hour. Not only do you get to see the bleached out, rusting signs and fallen letters up close but you’ll get a mini history of Las Vegas as you go. Tales of the Rat Pack and the Mob, hotel history, casino kings and how Vegas bloomed in the desert and grew into the city it is today. So, come take a stroll with me through the Boneyard…

Vintage Vegas Hotel Signs

The Stardust Hotel sign was a symbol of the city back in the ’60s. It was visible for 60 miles which isn’t surprising seeing as there were 975 bulbs in the “S” alone. Stardust held the accolade for tallest neon sign – every time a new taller neon came on the scene they just added another star and topped it.

The Sahara Hotel which closed in 2011 was a rat pack favourite and saw Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, and Judy Garland pass through its doors. The building is now the luxury SLS Las Vegas hotel.

“Wedding Information” – Vegas is the USA elopement and quickie divorce, capital – the sign below would have pointed you in the right direction.

The Neon Urban Gallery

When you’re done in the Boneyard take a stroll down Las Vegas Boulevard for some neon history. You’ll find eight classic vintage Vegas signs which have been restored and are part of the museum’s Urban Gallery. The Las Vegas Boulevard Signs Project is one of only three Urban National Scenic Byways in the US. Binion’s horseshoe, The Silver Slipper, The Hacienda Horse and Rider and 5^th Street Liquor Store amongst them. 

The Silver Slipper was designed by Jack Larson and built by Young Electric Sign Company (Yesco) around 1950.  It stood in the grounds of the Last Frontier on Las Vegas Boulevard on the Silver Slipper Gambling Hall.

The Hacienda Horse and Rider can be found by the entrance to the Fremont Street Experience where there’s a whole street dedicated to an evening light show with a roof canopy featuring 12.5 million lights and 550,000 watts of sound.

The sign for the Neon Museum itself is made up of different fonts and typography from some of the most famous neons. The word neon is made up of the ‘N’ from The Golden Nugget, the ‘E’ is from Ceasar’s Palace, ‘O’ is from Binion’s Horseshoe and the final ‘N’ celebrates the Desert Inn.  Many of these signs can be found in the Boneyard and are all are part of Las Vegas history. 

The North Gallery

The latest addition, the North Gallery, is a visitors viewing space filled with fun, retro-vibe historic signage and an immersive audio visual show. You’ll see unrestored signs that are too frail to be touched brought to life as they are re-animated in this spectacular immersive experience..

The Neon Museum at Night

A great time to visit the Neon Boneyard is a night when the signs are lit up. I’d love to go back for the night tour but would probably visit around dusk when the light is just beginning to fade for the best photo opportunities. It’s known as twilight hour.

Visiting The Neon Boneyard

The Neon Museum Boneyard is only available to the public through one of their hour-long guided tours.  It’s an outdoor collection and was very hot while we were there – there’s no shade so take a hat, water and sunblock.

Neon Sign Museum Location:

770 Las Vegas Boulevard North
Las Vegas, NV 89101

Tel: (702) 387-6366

Museum opening times:

Tours are available seven days a week and tour times vary based on the season.

Ticket cost for the Neon Sign Museum:

Advanced ticket purchase is recommended as tours often sell-out. Ticket prices for day tours are from $20 for general admission. For evening sessions prices are from $30. There are a range of concessions for seniors 65+, children, students, active military veterans and Nevada residents.

PIN IT!

Just a note – we paid full price for our entry into the Neon Museum and loved it. If you’re visiting Las Vegas it’s a ‘must do’.