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Neon signs are the classic Las Vegas art form and The Neon Museum's mission is to collect, preserve, study and exhibit neon signs and associated artifacts to inspire educational and cultural enrichment for diverse members of our international community. Parents and children will be amazed at this wonderfully nostalgic trip through Las Vegas’ past. The Neon Museum was established in 1996 as a non-profit organization and its collection of retired neon signs dating from the 1930s to present day. Each piece has its own story of how it inspired Las Vegas history and who created it.
The Neon Museum's "Bone yard" holds most of the 150 historic non-restored signs resting on a 3 acres area. Located just 15 to 20 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip on Las Vegas Blvd. North between Washington Blvd. and Bonanza Blvd. Guided tours are available for families and groups of six or more. Children 12 years old and under are free and adults are asked to donate $15 per adult. Tours are held twice daily Tuesday through Friday at 12p.m. and 2p.m. and Saturday tours times are 930a.m. and 11a.m. The museum staff asks that tour appointments are made at least one week in advance. "The Boneyard" is the home to such retired signs as the Silver Slipper, Gold Nugget, and its newest resident, the Stardust sign. These guided tour allows parents and children to view these amazing signs up close and at ground level. The museum's volunteer guides will entertain the entire family with funny anecdotes of these historic signs.
Other family attractions close by the Neon Museum are the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Lied Discovery Children's Museum and the Old Las Vegas Morman Fort State Historic Park.
A must see portion of the Neon Museum is the Fremont Street Gallery located in Las Vegas’ original "downtown" area. This self-guided walking tour is open 7 days a week. The tour begins in front of the Neonopolis and extends to the Fremont Street Experience canopy. Families can view and read historical information on 20 of the most famous Las Vegas neon signs of old. The tour begins when you seen the waving hand of the infamous "Hacienda Horse and Rider", originally installed on the Hacienda Hotel in 1967. Other signs to be viewed and awed over are Aladdin’s Lamp, The Flame, Chief Court Hotel, The Red Barn, Wedding Information and Dots Flowers.
When your tour has ended, enjoy the free, live entertainment at the Fremont Experience with its 90' canopy of 12 million lights and 555,000 watt sound system. Just around the corner, on Main Street, in front of the Main Street Hotel and Casino, several vintage Pullman Dining Train cars are on display at street level. Families will find the walk past the train cars an interesting bit of nostalgia when reading the descriptive plaques and viewing the contents of the cars, right down to period correct dinner plates.
The historic La Concha Motel Lobby, planned to be the future home of the Neon Museum Visitor's Center, is on the City of Las Vegas Historic Register. Just one example of how this museum is ever changing and growing providing a place to visit again and again.
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