The Neon Museum – the Final Resting Place for Iconic Las Vegas
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What first comes to mind when someone says Vegas?
Well, besides strip clubs and go go dancers.
BESIDES gambling and mobsters.
OKAYYYY besides crazy bachelor parties gone wrong, expensive buffets, circus shows, celebrity performances, drunk wedding vows, and some of the most creative hotels in the world?
That’s riiiiight – Neon signs.
You were totally going to get there, it was on the tip of your tongue.
But yes, neon signs! The billboards that light up the Nevada night sky. The billboards illuminating the entrances of all the hotels, motels, and even laundry mats. The neon signs are EVERYWHERE! But…have you ever wondered what happens to these signs when the hotel decides to switch their decor? Or when the laundry mat down the street gets bought out by a Walgreens? Where do the old signs go? There’s no ocean to dump them in, so where do you put them??
That’s where the Neon Museum comes in.
In short, the Neon Museum is a graveyard for all the old neon signs. Or rather, I should say it is a boneyard because all of the signs are above ground. The Neon Museum is down over by Fremont Street, or “Old Las Vegas.” From the strip (I was staying at TI) I grabbed a $10 uber to the museum.
You HAVE to get your tickets in advance. Every other time I have tried to visit, I tried getting tickets when I had already made it to Vegas and the museum was all sold out. SO MAKE SURE TO RESERVE IN ADVANCE! The tour takes 1 hour and tickets are $19 for adults, $15 for residents, military, senior, and kids 17 and under. Kids under 7 are free! You can buy a ticket combo pass that will get you admission to the Mob Museum as well. The Neon Museum also has a nighttime tour called Brilliant, and it’s a 30-minute tour through the museum with all the neon signs lit up! But…I didn’t get a chance to do that. Next time though!
Anyways, back to the Boneyard tour.
Once you arrive, walk into the main lobby. You need to check in at the front desk. If you have any backpacks or large bags, you will have to leave it at the front desk. Then you can chill in the gift shop (WHICH IS SUPER COOL BTW) until your tour time rolls around. I know some people absolutely hate souvenirs and gift shops, but I love em haha. If you haven’t gotten your Vegas magnet yet, there are plenty to choose from here. There are also some awesome books about Las Vegas and cool neon signs for purchase. So, have a look around. Or you could sit and rest your legs before the tour – because you’ll be standing from here on out.
My tour guide was Mitch, and he’s the best. If you get him as a tour guide, tell him I say “hiiii! Sorry for flashing the entire group :)”
Side note: Vegas can be windy, especially in Spring. So…dress accordingly.
I’m sure all the tour guides are just as amazing. SO THE TOUR! I’m not going to go into detail on all the awesome neon signs, because that’s what the actual tour is for, but TRUST ME! IT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND! From the history of Vegas and its iconic signs, to how neon signs are made, to the quirky characters that helped mold the city. It is easily one of my favorite museums/activities in Vegas.
So just do it, and then TELL ME ABOUT IT! I’m still gaga over the fact that Vegas was founded by a woman! Speaking of, The Neon Museum, founded in 1996, is a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting and preserving Las Vegas signs for educational, historic, and cultural enrichment. The museum relies heavily on donations, and last time I was there, the museum was saving up for the giant guitar from the Hard Rock hotel!
As far as instagram goes, it’s a little hard to get pictures without other people in the way. That’s just the nature of being in a tour. Plus, the path is a little narrow. But if you get creative, you can get some really great shots. It also helps to be the straggler in the group. Hang in the back and get some photos once the group starts moving to the next group of signs. The Neon Museum is also available to book for photo shoots! You can also book the place for an event! It’s a pretty outstanding place.
To book your reservations and to find out more about this MUST-SEE place in Vegas, click the link here!
Thank you Mitch and all of the staff at the Neon Museum for such an AMAZING day! If you’re like me, you’ll probably want to keep the energy up with another activity – check out my blog post on budget activities in Vegas for some inspiration!
Have you ever been to the Neon Museum? How was it? What was the coolest thing you learned?
This kind of activity is right up my alley! I wonder how frequently they get new signs to add to the collection.
I think it depends on when hotels change their signs and how much money the museum raises from donors! I know currently the museum working on buying the giant guitar neon sign from the Hard Rock Cafe hotel!