An outdoor collection of retired Las Vegas signs from more than 200 properties, seen on a self-guided visit by day or evening, with the Brilliant! Jackpot light-and-sound show as an evening add-on.
The Neon Museum preserves the signs that used to light up Las Vegas. Its collection runs to more than 300 signs from over 200 casinos, motels, wedding chapels and businesses. Most of them stand in the outdoor Neon Boneyard on Las Vegas Boulevard North, just north of downtown.
You enter through the visitor center, which is the relocated shell-shaped lobby of the old La Concha Motel. Then you walk gravel paths between giant letters, starbursts, arrows and casino marquees. Plaques explain where each one came from. A handful of restored signs work at night, but most are in their original weathered state.
Standard entry is self-guided, with a choice of Daytime or Evening Admission. A visit usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Daytime gives you sharp colours, rusted textures and readable plaques. Evening is when lit signs and ground lighting take over, and it is the more atmospheric option. The museum is open daily from 3pm to 11pm. Last entry is 10pm from September to May and 11pm from June to August. Evening slots sell out regularly, so book ahead. Booking around sunset gives you both daylight and the lights coming on.
Guided tours led by staff who know the design and cultural history are an add-on, as are themed tours such as the Las Vegas movies tour. Brilliant! Jackpot is a separate evening add-on in the North Gallery, a space of unrestored signs. Artist Craig Winslow uses projection mapping and a 24-speaker sound system to make about 40 dead signs appear to light up again. If you are coming in the evening, it is the part most people remember.
The Boneyard is outdoors and uncovered. In summer even evening visits are hot, and the museum closes intermittently in bad weather. Personal phone photos are welcome, but professional cameras and shoots need separate arrangements. Costumes are fine but masks and props are not. The museum is about 5 minutes by rideshare from Fremont Street, so it combines easily with the Mob Museum or an evening downtown.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided walk through the outdoor Neon Boneyard, with plaques describing each sign's origin. Plan on about 45 minutes, or longer if you read everything and take photos. Paths are gravel, so wear flat shoes.
Best time
An evening slot around sunset, to see the signs in daylight and lit up.
How long
45 to 90 minutes.
Tips
Daytime Admission is best for colour, texture and reading the history. Evening Admission brings out the lit signs and ground lighting, and it is when the Brilliant! Jackpot add-on runs. Evening tickets cost a little more and sell out sooner. A projection-mapped light and sound show in the North Gallery. It brings about 40 unrestored signs back to life using projectors and a 24-speaker sound system. It is bought as an add-on to Evening Admission, and advance booking is strongly recommended. Expert-led tours on the history and design of the signs, plus themed options such as a Las Vegas movies tour, are sold as add-ons. They suit people who want the stories behind the signs rather than just the photos. Phone and tablet photos are encouraged. Larger cameras, photo shoots and filming need to be arranged in advance through the museum's photo policies. Masks, props and face paint are not allowed. Book an Evening slot around sunset to see the signs both in daylight and lit up. Add Brilliant! Jackpot to an evening visit. It is the most distinctive part of the museum.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Photographers, design fans and anyone curious about old Las Vegas.
- Families
- Works for school-age children who enjoy signs and photos; the visit is largely outdoors, so bring water in summer.
- Couples
- An evening visit with Brilliant! Jackpot is a photogenic option.
- Pair with
- The Mob Museum is a few minutes away, so make an afternoon of it and finish on Fremont Street.
- Time needed
- 45 to 90 minutes.
Good questions
What are the Neon Museum's opening hours?+
Daily from 3pm to 11pm. Last entry is 10pm from September to May and 11pm from June to August. The museum may close intermittently in severe weather.
Is the Neon Museum a guided tour?+
Standard Daytime and Evening Admission is self-guided, with plaques at each sign. Guided tours with staff experts and themed tours are sold as add-ons.
What is Brilliant! Jackpot?+
An evening light and sound show in the museum's North Gallery. Projection mapping and a 24-speaker sound system bring about 40 unrestored signs back to life. It is an add-on to Evening Admission, and it often sells out.
Is it better to visit during the day or at night?+
Day is better for colour, detail and reading the plaques. Night is more atmospheric and is when Brilliant! Jackpot runs. A slot around sunset gives you a bit of both.
Can children visit the Neon Museum?+
Yes. Children under 6 are free but still need a ticket, and ages 7 to 17 pay a reduced rate. The site is outdoors on gravel paths, so strollers can be hard work.
