Neon Museum, Las Vegas

Las Vegas is widely associated with neon signage, which once defined the city’s streetscape and visual identity. For much of the 20th century, glowing signs advertised casinos, hotels, restaurants, and small businesses, turning the city into a night-time spectacle. Although most of these signs have since been replaced by LED screens and digital displays, a large part of this earlier visual culture has been preserved at the Neon Museum.

The Neon Museum is a dedicated institution focused on collecting and conserving historic neon signs from Las Vegas. Its main exhibition area is the Neon Boneyard, a two-acre outdoor space where more than 150 original signs are displayed. These pieces date mainly from the 1930s through the 1980s and represent different eras of the city’s development. Most of the signs remain permanently at the museum, where they are presented as historical objects rather than active advertisements, though some are selectively illuminated during evening visits or special programs.

A small number of restored historic signs can also be seen outside the museum, installed as public displays in downtown Las Vegas. Several of these are located in and around the Fremont Street Experience, a pedestrian entertainment district known for its overhead LED canopy, live music stages, and concentration of early casinos. These installations are separate from the museum and serve as individual landmarks rather than part of a formal exhibition.

Among the best-known examples are the Hacienda Horse and Rider from the Hacienda Hotel, first installed in 1967; the Aladdin’s Lamp from the Aladdin Hotel, dating to 1966; the Flame Restaurant sign from 1961; the Nevada Hotel sign from 1950; and Dot’s Flowers, originally created for a florist shop in 1949. Together, these signs offer a glimpse into the design styles and commercial language of mid-century Las Vegas.