While on a trip to Las Vegas, I partnered with The Neon Museum for a visit and this blog post. The Neon Museum hosted us on this experience.
For spring break this year, my freshman-year college student asked me to take him to Las Vegas. He had a list of activities he wanted to do during the trip. He left room in the itinerary for me to suggest surprises. One of the spots I suggested we visit while in Las Vegas was The Neon Museum.
About The Neon Museum
The Neon Museum, located just north of the iconic Las Vegas Strip, is an outdoor museum that preserves iconic signage from historic casinos, hotels, and businesses. The Neon Museum offers a compelling look at the city’s past, its culture and even its architectural history. As you explore the grounds, you’ll encounter pieces that reflect different eras of Las Vegas.
Here are 7 Reasons to Visit the Neon Museum in Las Vegas
1. Vintage Las Vegas History Lesson
The Neon Museum preserves iconic neon signs from old casinos, hotels, and businesses. The retired signs are given new life at the museum, with their histories and stories forever archived. As part of the exhibit, informational placards provide details about the featured sign and its impact on the city. When we visited in March, they were celebrating Women’s History Month and included additional female-focused signage.
2. Instagrammable Moments
Social media is all about those unique, stand-out photographic moments. The Neon Museum’s weathered vintage signs and colorful restored pieces make it one of Las Vegas’ most unique photogenic spots.
3. Hidden Gem
Referred to as “The Neon Boneyard,” The Neon Museum feels like one of those “if you know, you know” experiences. A place where the cool kids hang out. The collection of retired signs, stacked and displayed artistically, combines history with a desert-like vibe.
4. Great tack-on spot if visiting Area 15
The Neon Museum is located at 770 Las Vegas Blvd North, Las Vegas, Nevada. It sits in the downtown area near Fremont Street. The Neon Museum is close to AREA15, a popular immersive entertainment complex featuring interactive art, virtual reality experiences, and attractions such as Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart. It is easy to combine both destinations in one trip. You can explore the vintage neon signs and the museum’s history, then head over to AREA15 for a more futuristic, high-tech experience. The locations are about 10 minutes apart.
5. Evolving Exhibitions
The collection at the Neon Museum is constantly evolving. New vintage Las Vegas signs are added as casinos and businesses close or renovate. Additions also occur after some signs are carefully restored and illuminated. Rotating displays and immersive experiences ensure visitors see something different each time. When we visited, there was a large collection of signs that were closed off and not on display yet.
6. Break from the Strip
Let’s be honest, the Las Vegas strip can be a lot. It is a constant stream of stimulation and distractions. While nearby Fremont Street delivered just as intense and vibrant an experience as the Strip. After a few days and nights exploring the Strip, casinos, and Las Vegas nightlife, we needed a break. The Neon Museum was just far enough removed from the strip and gave the chill vibe we were looking for.
7. The Artsy Side of Las Vegas
The artistry of lights and neon signs at the Neon Museum transforms commercial signage into luminous art, with bold colors, dynamic shapes, and vintage typography. Each sign tells a story, capturing the glamour, nostalgia, and playful creativity that define Las Vegas’s artistic identity.
Walking out of the Neon Museum, you are reminded of just how much of Las Vegas has come and gone. It’s a reminder that the city didn’t always look the way it does now, and probably won’t stay that way either. If nothing else, it’s worth seeing these pieces up close before they disappear for good.
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Thank you to the Neon Museum for hosting us!