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Neon Museum

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This article is about the museum in Las Vegas. For the museum in Los Angeles, see Museum of Neon Art.
Neon Museum
File:Neon Museum logo.png
Map
EstablishedFounded in 1996. Opened to the public in 2012.
Location770 Las Vegas Blvd North, Las Vegas, NV 89101
TypeHistory museum, Non-profit organization
Websiteneonmuseum.org

The Neon Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, is located at 770 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Las Vegas, NV 89101.[1] Founded in 1996, the Neon Museum is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs for educational, historic, arts and cultural enrichment.[2] The Neon Museum campus includes the outdoor exhibition space known as the Neon Boneyard, a visitors’ center housed inside the former La Concha Motel lobby and the Neon Boneyard North Gallery which houses additional rescued signs and is available for weddings, special events, photo shoots and educational programs.[3] The Neon Museum collection chronicles changes and trends in sign design and technology through pieces ranging from the 1930s to the present day. Public education, outreach, research, archival preservation and a grant-funded neon sign survey represent a selection of the museum’s ongoing projects.[4]

The 2.25-acre campus includes the outdoor exhibition space known as the Neon Boneyard, which features more than 200 signs, 11 of which are restored, a visitors' center housed inside the former La Concha Motel lobby, and Brilliant!, a light projection exhibit in the North Gallery.[5]

For many years, the Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO) stored many of these old signs in their "boneyard."

The signs are considered by Las Vegas locals, business owners and government organizations to be not only artistically, but also historically, significant to the culture of the city. Each of the restored signs in the collection holds a story about who created it and why it is important.[6]

History

Dedicated individuals from the private sector, as well as corporate and government entities, worked collaboratively to promote the preservation of these national treasures as significant pieces of artistic and historical importance. Each sign in the Neon Museum’s collection offers a unique story about the personalities who created it, what inspired it, where and when it was made, and the role it played in Las Vegas’ distinctive history.[7]

The Neon Museum visitors’ center is located inside the historic La Concha Motel lobby. This distinctive shell-shaped building was designed by acclaimed architect Paul Revere Williams. The curvilinear La Concha Motel lobby is a striking example of Mid-Century modern design characterized by Atomic- and Space Age shapes and motifs. Originally constructed in 1961 on Las Vegas Boulevard South (next to the Riviera Hotel), the La Concha lobby was saved from demolition in 2005 and moved in 2006 to its current location to serve as the museum’s Visitors’ Center. References to many of the lobby’s original interior design elements have been included in the newly refurbished facility, with two of the motel’s original signs – the mosaic lobby sign and a section of the main roadside sign – restored and illuminated as part of the museum’s rehabilitation efforts. Although it cost nearly $3 million to move and restore the La Concha, the plans to open a museum became concrete after the donation of the building, drawing a number of public and private grants and donations.[8] In total, approximately $6.5 million was raised for the visitors' center, headquarters, a new park, and restoration of 15 major signs.[9]

During 2009, the museum received the sign from the Moulin Rouge Hotel.[10] In November 2009, the Neon Museum restored and installed the famous Silver Slipper sign across from its welcome center, and two more restored vintage signs were installed near the northern end of Las Vegas Boulevard to mark its designation as a National Scenic Byway.[11]

In 2010, the City of Las Vegas began construction of the Neon Boneyard Park near the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and McWilliams Avenue. The former YESCO Boneyard comprised two lots that straddled McWilliams, just east of the new Neon Boneyard Park. Part of the YESCO Boneyard was paved to create parking for the new park.[12] An original 80-foot (24 m) tall sign from the Sahara was donated in 2011.[13]

Paid public admission commenced on October 27, 2012, replacing the prior appointment-only basis.[8] Although the museum was 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) north of the main tourist attraction at the Fremont Street Experience, officials touted the potential draw from sixteen restored neon signs the museum had already erected around Fremont Street.[14] Attendance during the first year was 60,461, exceeding the early estimate of 45–50,000 visitors.[15]

After outgrowing its space in the former La Concha lobby shell, the museum moved its headquarters to old City Hall in 2016 and converted the offices into a museum store.[16] In 2017, the museum purchased land for its first expansion since opening to the public in 2012.[17] For its fifth anniversary, the Neon Museum offered free admission on October 28, 2017.[18]

The Collection

The Neon Museum campus includes the outdoor exhibition space known as the Neon Boneyard, a visitors’ center housed inside the former La Concha Motel lobby and the Neon Boneyard North Gallery which houses additional rescued signs and is available for weddings, special events, photo shoots and educational programs.[19] In 1996, The Neon Museum officially “opened” with the installation of its first refurbished sign, the Hacienda Horse and Rider, at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street.

The North Gallery sits adjacent to the Neon Museum and showcases more unrestored signs from the collection. It is available for photo/video shoots and plays host to Brilliant!, our sight and sound program which magically appears to make signs come to life and it is also available for weddings, receptions, educational programming,  photo shoots and other special events.[20]

Neon Boneyard

The Neon Boneyard is considered the "Main Collection" of the Neon Museum. The Neon Boneyard can be visited through either an hour-long guided tour, a self-guided tour or on a limited-access basis. Tours are available seven days a week and tour times vary based on the season.[21] The Neon Museum Boneyard is a very popular venue for events and photo shoots so our hours do vary. Photo and video shoots for personal or commercial use must be scheduled in advance.[22]

Public Art

In 1996, The Neon Museum officially “opened” with the installation of its first refurbished sign, the Hacienda Horse and Rider, at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street. Today, it joins eight other restored neon signs currently on display as part of the Las Vegas Signs project: the Silver Slipper, the Bow & Arrow Motel and Binion’s Horseshoe were installed in 2009 near the La Concha Visitors’ Center at the McWilliams Avenue intersection; Society Cleaners, the Lucky Cuss Motel and the Normandie Motel were added along Las Vegas Blvd between Ogden Ave the 1-95 overpass in 2012. Additionally, the 5th Street Liquor sign was installed at Garces Street and Casino Center Boulevard, near the Bonneville Transit Center and the Landmark Hotel sign was installed on Paradise Road near the site of the imploded casino. These restored signs can be viewed as public art and visited on a self-guided tour, 24-hours a day, seven days a week.[23]

"The Flame" sign displayed in the plaza next to Neonopolis
Horse and rider from the Hacienda Resort
Restored signs in Downtown Las Vegas

Brilliant!

In 2018, the Neon Museum began Brilliant!, a 30-minute night show designed by experiential artist Craig Winslow which uses multiple projectors to reanimate defunct signs, set to vintage and contemporary music.[24] Winslow studied the signs closely and mapped each one, bulb by bulb, in digital form. With a combination of photography, video, and 3-D photogrammetry, he was able to recreate the signs’ light and project it back onto them, so they appear alive again.[25] Lasers cast their light onto more than 40 discarded signs from Las Vegas legends such as the Horseshoe, Lady Luck and Stardust hotel-casinos. The signs have been sitting in storage, in some cases for decades.[26]

References

  1. ^ "The Neon Museum Las Vegas | The history of Las Vegas through neon". www.neonmuseum.org. Retrieved 2018-09-07. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  2. ^ "The Neon Museum Las Vegas | The history of Las Vegas through neon". www.neonmuseum.org. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  3. ^ User, Super. "The Neon Museum Las Vegas | The history of Las Vegas through neon - Neon Boneyard". www.neonmuseum.org. Retrieved 2018-09-07. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ User, Super. "The Neon Museum Las Vegas | The history of Las Vegas through neon - Neon Boneyard". www.neonmuseum.org. Retrieved 2018-09-07. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ "The Neon Museum Las Vegas | The history of Las Vegas through neon - The Collection". www.neonmuseum.org. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  6. ^ http://www.neonmuseum.org/about
  7. ^ User, Super. "The Neon Museum Las Vegas | The history of Las Vegas through neon - Neon Boneyard". www.neonmuseum.org. Retrieved 2018-09-07. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ a b Pratt, Timothy (27 October 2012). "New Museum Shows Off Las Vegas's Neon Side". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  9. ^ Rothstein, Edward (1 February 2013). "Where Las Vegas Stardust Rests in Peace". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  10. ^ Munks, Jamie (22 April 2018). "Remnants remain, but future of Las Vegas' Moulin Rouge in limbo". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  11. ^ Toplikar, Dave (9 November 2009). "Refurbished signs a step forward in preserving Las Vegas' past". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  12. ^ Finnegan, Amanda (6 February 2010). "City to begin construction on Neon Boneyard Park". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  13. ^ "Sahara in Vegas donates sign to museum". Associated Press. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  14. ^ O'Reilley, Tim (August 31, 2012). "Lights this way: Neon Museum opening set". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  15. ^ Morrison, Jane Ann (6 March 2014). "Neon Museum meets visitor projection in its first year — more than 60,000". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  16. ^ Wargo, Buck (7 October 2016). "Neon Museum unveils first stage of expansion plans". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  17. ^ Lilly, Caitlin (16 February 2017). "Neon Museum receives $425K grant for major expansion". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  18. ^ Jones, Jay (25 October 2017). "Las Vegas' Neon Museum marks five years and wants you to visit — for free". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  19. ^ "The Neon Museum Las Vegas | The history of Las Vegas through neon - About". www.neonmuseum.org. Retrieved 2018-09-07. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  20. ^ User, Super. "The Neon Museum Las Vegas | The history of Las Vegas through neon - North Gallery". www.neonmuseum.org. Retrieved 2018-09-08. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  21. ^ User, Super. "The Neon Museum Las Vegas | The history of Las Vegas through neon - Neon Boneyard". www.neonmuseum.org. Retrieved 2018-09-08. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  22. ^ User, Super. "The Neon Museum Las Vegas | The history of Las Vegas through neon - Buy Tickets". www.neonmuseum.org. Retrieved 2018-09-08. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  23. ^ User, Super. "The Neon Museum Las Vegas | The history of Las Vegas through neon - Public Art". www.neonmuseum.org. Retrieved 2018-09-08. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  24. ^ Reed, C. Moon (8 February 2018). "The Neon Museum's 'Brilliant!' makes classic signs shine again". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  25. ^ "See the Vintage Neon Signs of Las Vegas, Reanimated". Atlas Obscura. 2018-02-02. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
  26. ^ Jones, Jay. "Busted neon signs gain new life in sound-and-light show at Las Vegas' Neon Museum". latimes.com. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
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