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Where the Signs Go
Where the signs go when the casinos die - two acres of neon that used to light the Strip.
Explore the BoneyardNearby—More from this destination.
This 360° panorama was captured at dusk in the boneyard at the Neon Museum in downtown Las Vegas, among the signs retired from the casinos.
The camera stands on the gravel in the middle of the yard, and the signs are not on plinths or behind rope - they are leaning on each other, propped, stacked and laid on their sides, close enough on both sides that there is barely a path. The scale is the thing a photograph loses: letters that read as ordinary type from a moving car turn out to be twelve feet tall and made of riveted sheet steel with sockets for hundreds of bulbs. A few pieces have been restored and lit and are throwing real colour across everything near them; most are unlit, and their paint has gone chalky in the desert sun. Names surface as you turn - SILVER SLIPPER on a curved red panel, the blue vertical of the HUNTRIDGE, a painted board reading time to Swing to STANDARD WHOLESALE Supply with a clock still fixed beside it, Casino spelled out in bulbs, Manila Bay, Karl’s C-B Sales. Above all of it the sky is going deep blue, which is when this place is worth being in.
The Neon Museum officially opened in 1996 with the installment of its first restored sign in downtown Las Vegas. This sign, known as the Hacienda Horse and Rider, resides at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street. It is one of a number of signs affiliated with the Neon Museum that are displayed publicly in the downtown district. From the start, the main purpose of the Neon Museum has been to preserve old signs like this one that speak to the history of Las Vegas. The goal is to provide not only historic enrichment to museum visitors, but educational and cultural enrichment as well. The historic signs are nothing less than iconic images that once dominated the Las Vegas skyline, and it's wonderful to know that there are people who are dedicated to keeping them around. Following along on its mission, the Neon Museum restored the La Concha Motel lobby and converted it into their visitor center in 2012. Also opened in 2012 was the Neon Boneyard, which is where you will find the majority of the Neon Museum collection.
Neon Boneyard A major part of the Neon Museum's two-acre campus, the Neon Boneyard is where most of the museum's signs are displayed. These signs include some of the most famous and treasured signs of Las Vegas, including historical signs from the Stardust, Binion's Horseshoe, the Golden Nugget, the Moulin Rouge Hotel, the Desert Inn, and Caesars Palace. In total, there are more than 150 historic signs at the Neon Boneyard. Each has been donated or loaned to the museum by businesses, sign companies or individuals. Among other things, the signs that are on display in the Neon Boneyard at the Neon Museum serve as inspiration for artists, historians, students, and designers
Stardust Sign The Stardust sign that is on display at the Neon Boneyard is one of the Neon Museum's most prized possessions. This has a lot to do with the historic significance of the Stardust Resort & Casino. This iconic casino hotel opened way back in 1958 and operated for 46 years. Those years coincided with the development of Las Vegas from a relatively small outpost in the Nevada desert to the booming entertainment mecca that it is today. For decades, the Stardust was one of the main places to play and stay in Vegas, epitomizing what the Entertainment Capital of the World was all about. Much like the Stardust Resort and Casino itself, the Stardust sign was a famous symbol of Las Vegas and will forever hold a place on the city's historical landscape. Adding to the sign's legacy are appearances in several movies, including Casino and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Interesting to note is the size of the Stardust sign. Once the Strip's largest, it is 216 feet long and could be seen from up to three miles across the desert!
Downtown Las Vegas Hotels The hotels in downtown Las Vegas have become pretty popular in recent years and give the hotels on the Strip a real run for their money these days. Among the main standouts among the downtown hotels is the Golden Nugget. This landmark hotel opened in 1946 and was the first structure in Vegas that was built specifically for casino gambling. It has been transformed and updated over time and offers an excellent blend of old and new. Another good bet for where to stay in downtown Las Vegas is the Downtown Grand Casino and Hotel (pictured). On the whole, the downtown Las Vegas hotels are well priced, which can help you free up funds for other things, like Neon Museum tours!