The Neon Museum in downtown Las Vegas is not only a series of old and dusty signs, but also outlines a vibrant story about an incredible city located in a desolate desert. It gradually attracts from the world Tourists from all over. Bright signs beckon drivers to cross the dark landscape for miles and then frantically compete for the attention of tourists.
Some neon lights are recognizable at a glance, others are relatively easy to forget; dozens of them are shining in their initial brilliance, and more are illuminated by ground lighting, while others are irreversibly decomposed and will never be energized again .
Visitors marvel at the scale and beauty of the glittering Stardust lettering, the 82-foot-high Hard Rock Hotel guitar, and the gorgeous Moulin Rouge logo, the letters of which are 14 to 18 feet high and 3 to 17 feet wide. The letter M alone weighs 1,200 pounds. Neon gas and phosphor blue glass make neon lights appear fluorescent pink.
In addition to promoting the signs of famous hotels and casinos, smaller signs have been placed throughout the outdoor yard for more common motels, restaurants and other businesses such as dairy products and dry cleaners.
The museum was founded in 1996 and has been located on the current 2.3-acre campus since 2011. It attracted as many as 250,000 guests each year before the pandemic. This year's goal is to reach 190,000.
When Aaron Berger, who was appointed to this position in July, visited the museum for the first time during an interview for the position of executive director, he was surprised by the substance that matched all this style-history under beautiful light. .
"The signs themselves are a kind of beauty to them, and art to them," Berger said. "However, they are indeed catalysts for telling the story of our city's history."
Under the shining of neon lights, an instructor will lead a 45-minute hike every night. They succinctly place the logo in the context of the city and the era. They shared stories about celebrities, such as casino owner Benny Binion (horseshoes) and the role of the Moulin Rouge in the civil rights movement; the hotel opened in 1955 and was the city's first integrated resort.
Guests may know that the "Welcome to Wonderful Las Vegas" sign made by Betty Willis still illuminates South Boulevard, but they may be surprised to find that it is her handwriting on the Moulin Rouge. This special logo resonated with Berger, who spent 20 years in Atlanta, the cradle of the civil rights movement.
"Visitors can come to us and be fascinated by the incredible colors and scripts, the beautiful pink in the Moulin Rouge logo.... Others may find the history as completely open as I did Inspired by vision and madness."
Approximately 250 of the 800 signs in the museum’s collection are displayed. Employees of non-profit organizations monitor signs under often cruel conditions. Excessive heat, cold currents, monsoon rains, wind, birds and other wildlife can all adversely affect these signs.
"These signs are designed to withstand these conditions," Berger said. "However, everything has limitations. Therefore, we must continue to study how to prioritize these signs and take care of them."
The cost of repairing a sign ranges from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. A fundraising event is held for specific signs that the museum has acquired and deemed worthy of restoration.
The North Gallery shows signs that there is no electricity passing through them and there is little hope of restoration. They constitute the taste of "Brilliant! Jackpot", an immersive audiovisual show held at night. The projection mapping brings the logo to life, allowing guests to imagine what they would look like on a better day; Vegas-related tunes constitute the soundtrack of the experience. The three slightly different versions produced reflect the three eras of Las Vegas history: the West, Atoms, and Gold.
In addition to the recently added Spanish tour, Berger also hopes to add some features soon to redouble the emphasis on education and to study the experiences of blacks, Latinos, Jews, LGBTQ and indigenous people in more depth.
"Las Vegas Luminaries" is a 808-square-foot mural created by Las Vegas couple Nanda Sharifpour and Ali Fathollahi, unveiled this month. It highlights some of the lesser-known contributors to the history of Las Vegas and the diverse communities that helped shape its culture.
Among the people represented:
Visitors can scan the QR code to get more information about the person depicted.
Berger said that being recognized by the American Association of Museums (AAM) last summer allows the Neon Museum to more credibly communicate with other accredited institutions, develop traveling exhibitions, and borrow current neon artists and other people who use light, video, or electricity. s work. The Neon Museum is also looking for indoor spaces around the valley to display artworks that may be more sensitive to the environment.
The museum will always retain and display signs of the past, but Berger hopes to explore more modern uses of lights to beckon people on the street.
"What are the contemporary uses of neon lights? What are the contemporary uses of signage? How do we make signs in this day and age?" Berger asked, implying how museums can remain relevant in the future.
General admission during the day (self-guided, one hour) is 20 dollars; night guided tour (45 minutes) is 28 dollars; and "Brilliant! Jackpot" sound and light show (25 minutes) is 23 dollars. Business hours this month are from 1pm to 10pm. Tickets are issued approximately one month in advance.
Visitors who do not have tickets can also see the nine restored signs in the museum collection, or visit the city center for free. A map of this public art can be found at https://www.neonmuseum.org/the-collection/public-art. For more information, please visit www.neonmuseum.org.
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