Tucked away in downtown Las Vegas is a boutique museum with an outdoor trail completely full of…yes, old neon advertising signs. The small exhibit serves as the graveyard to donated old signs from local businesses casinos, and popular shows over the years in Sin city. Some of these signs were massive, others just large enough to fit inside an Iphone photo frame. Amongst these amazing rustic and weather worn signs were the famous Moulin Rouge, the first Clarke County Inn motel, and many more.
What stood out to me as an artist myself was not just the preservation of the pieces but the education that the guides provided on the business and history behind each sign. The Non-Profit museum also has an artist in residency program. This allows the museum an opportunity for collaborating with visual artist to help to restore and recreate more signs, mix media pieces, and paintings to add to the ambience of the vintage light show and exhibit. My visit was quick and sweet in the daytime after leaving the previous installation, but I know would be a real treat to experience at night when the signs that are still able to light up shine and show the nostalgia of old Vegas.