Step into a graveyard where nothing is really dead. The Neon Museum in Las Vegas preserves the city's most iconic signs in a spectacular outdoor space known as the Neon Boneyard.

Welcome to a place where yesterday's glitz still glows. Spread across six acres in downtown Las Vegas, The Neon Museum is more than a collection of old signs. It's a luminous archive of the city's soul, where the remnants of demolished casinos and shuttered businesses stand as colorful monuments to ambition, entertainment, and the ever-evolving nature of the American Dream.

The museum's centerpiece is the Neon Boneyard, an open-air exhibition space where visitors walk among towering neon artifacts that once lit up the Strip and downtown streets.

From Storage Lot to Cultural Landmark

The journey to create The Neon Museum took decades. While advocates pushed for neon preservation since the 1970s, particularly after the Sands Hotel demolished its iconic sign in 1981, it wasn't until September 1996 that the Las Vegas City Council approved funding for the project.

Initially, the museum had no physical home. Instead, it focused on restoring and reinstalling vintage signs throughout downtown. The first project was the Hacienda's famous Horse & Rider sign in 1996. When YESCO, the company that manufactured many of Las Vegas' neon signs, closed its storage lot in 2000, the city provided land for what would become the Neon Boneyard. Tours began in 2001 by appointment only, serving just 1,800 visitors annually.

Icons of the Strip and Beyond

The museum's collection spans nearly a century, with approximately 250 signs on display from the 1930s to recent years. Casino giants dominate the landscape: the Stardust's sweeping script, the Desert Inn's elegant lettering, Caesars Palace's grand signage, and the Moulin Rouge Hotel's historic marker.

But it's not all casinos. The collection includes gems from everyday Las Vegas life: a hand pouring whiskey from the 5th Street Liquor Store (the museum's first donated sign), the Flame restaurant's retro lettering, and Ugly Duckling Car Sales. The oldest artifact is a remnant from a 1930s Andy Anderson's Restaurant sign. Fiberglass sculptures add dimension, including a massive skull from the Treasure Island resort.

Where History Comes Back to Life

The museum's visitor center is itself a rescued artifact: the stunning shell-shaped lobby of the demolished La Concha Motel, cut into eight pieces and moved 3.5 miles in 2006. This architectural gem now greets visitors with its mid-century modernist curves.

The Brilliant! Jackpot show transforms the North Gallery each night, using projection mapping to reanimate unrestored signs that no longer light up on their own. Set to music spanning decades, the 30-minute experience breathes temporary life into dormant neon. The museum also hosts 200 weddings annually, offering couples a backdrop unlike anywhere else on Earth. Private donors fund restoration projects costing $10,000 to $100,000 per sign.

The Neon Museum Highlights & Tips

• The La Concha Visitor Center This rescued 1960s motel lobby showcases mid-century modern architecture at its finest. The shell-shaped structure was saved from demolition and moved to the museum site, where it now serves as an iconic entrance to your visit.
• Stardust and Desert Inn Signs These massive casino signs represent the golden age of Las Vegas entertainment. The Stardust's sweeping design and the Desert Inn's elegant lettering are among the most photographed pieces in the collection.
• Brilliant! Jackpot Night Show Experience the North Gallery transformed through projection mapping that brings unlit signs back to glowing life. This 30-minute multimedia show combines vintage and contemporary music with stunning visual effects.
• 5th Street Liquor Sign The museum's first donated sign from the late 1940s features a hand pouring a bottle into a glass. This iconic piece represents the beginning of Las Vegas' neon preservation movement.
• Book Tours in Advance The museum receives 200,000 visitors annually and often sells out. Reserve your guided or self-guided tour online ahead of time to avoid disappointment, especially during peak tourist seasons.
• Visit After Dark Evening tours offer the best experience as restored signs light up and the Brilliant! Jackpot show is available. The desert night setting enhances the neon glow and creates perfect photo opportunities.
• Wear Comfortable Shoes The Boneyard tour covers outdoor terrain across six acres. Bring comfortable walking shoes and prepare for desert conditions, including sun exposure during day tours and cooler temperatures at night.
• Explore the Scenic Byway Signs Beyond the main Boneyard, the museum has installed restored signs along Las Vegas Boulevard, creating a free outdoor gallery. Look for the Hacienda's Horse & Rider and the Silver Slipper's giant neon shoe near the museum entrance.

The Neon Museum tells the story of Las Vegas through its most visible art form. Each sign carries memories of glamorous nights, family vacations, and the countless dreams that have been chased under the desert sky. These rescued artifacts remind us that preservation matters, that what once seemed disposable can become invaluable cultural heritage.

Whether you're a Las Vegas local or a first-time visitor, the Neon Boneyard offers a perspective on the city that you won't find anywhere else. It's where nostalgia glows in brilliant color, where history isn't locked behind glass but towers overhead in all its faded glory.