Each city has its own unique way of telling the tales of the past, and here in Vegas one of the best ways to get in touch with the valley’s glowing history is through its signage. That’s right, at The Neon Museum you’ll find a collection of vintage signs that symbolize decades of change.
Whether you stop in day or night for a self-guided exploration or a tour with a knowledgeable docent, this attraction offers stunning visuals (perfect for your photo dump on the ‘gram) and fascinating facts about how the Neon City came to be.
One of the most stunning pieces in the collection, the Moulin Rouge sign, welcomes tours and wanderers right as they enter the Neon Boneyard. Visitors can bask in its pink glow while learning about the property’s historic significance as the first fully desegregated casino in Las Vegas.
Then it’s time to learn about the properties that once speckled what is now downtown and the fascinating stories of the bigwigs who built them. You’ll even find some signs from retired properties that still operate, like the Plaza, which was the first casino to allow women to be dealers, according to the museum.
Trek on to ogle signs from the era of Wild West marketing trends, signs that advertised legendary performers like Liberace and Debbie Reynolds, and one of the newest additions to the Boneyard—The Dunes Hotel. (The Neon Museum is constantly working to refurbish signs and add to the already impressive array of works.) The Dunes Hotel was once home to the tallest freestanding sign in the world. And while the 181-foot sign that once stood at the hotel was demolished, The Neon Museum was able to relight a smaller directional sign that mirrored the shape and style of the grand display that beckoned visitors to the property.
More incredible artworks include the Hard Rock Guitar, retired bits of the Flamingo facade and contemporary builds by none other than Tim Burton, whose whimsical Lost Vegas signage debuted in 2019. One of the largest in that collection (inspired by that massive Dunes sign we mentioned) has a permanent home in the Boneyard.
770 Las Vegas Blvd N. 702.387.6366. neonmuseum.org
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