by Thomas Chandy

Created on: December 22, 2011   Last Updated: February 24, 2012

Las Vegas is known for its neon signs.  These signs represent classic art forms. The signs were collected by enthusiastic people and displayed in the Neon Museum which was inaugurated in the year 1996. Both the government and private sector have been involved in the preservation of these neon signs and related artifacts. The museum serves as a narrative of the history of Las Vegas. The city is very popular and attracts tourists throughout the year. The museum helps to educate tourists about the development of Las Vegas, its history and culture. The museum collection includes the Fremont Street gallery, Boneyard and Neon Signs project.

The city of Las Vegas and the Allied Arts Council of Southern Nevada partnered to establish the Neon Museum. It is an independent and non profit organization. The collection includes signs from the boneyard collection. The boneyard was used to store old signs of the Young Electric Sign Company. The signs were deteriorating. The museum now maintains these collections.

The neon museum is situated on Las Vegas Boulevard and Bonanza. It has 150 signs from Nevada. The collection has increased since the opening.The collection includes signs from Stardust, Caesar’s Palace, Moulin Rouge Hotel and Desert Inn.There are fiberglass sculptures also.The skull from the Treasure Island is also present among the collection.

The horse and rider sign is the first sign to be lit. It is at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street. The 80 foot Sahara sign was given to the museum in the year 2006. Many signs have been restored by the museum. The signs are in downtown Las Vegas which tourists can see as they walk through the street.

The La Concha Visitor Center is nearing completion and will be open by May, 2012. The visitor center will usher more visitors to the museum. The Neon Museum Visitor Center will then be available for hosting events like meetings, parties, weddings or other festivities. There will be rooms for lectures, video presentations, artifact collection, document collection and administrative purposes. The boneyard is also being renovated.

The museum’s projects include research, public education, neon sign survey, archival preservation and outreach. The museum also allows commercial and film shoots. The museum partners with cultural organizations to conduct exhibitions. The museum has come a long way since the launch. It is a link to the history of the city. People can visit the museum after taking appointments. It is important to note that the boneyard is not electrified, so visitors can view these signs only during daytime. The Fremont Street Gallery has nine signs which look spectacular when lit in the evenings. The Neon Signs Project has three signs in Las Vegas Blvd which look brilliant in the night.

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