Story: The Neon Boneyard in Las Vegas

Mauricio Ximenez De La Croix

By Mauricio Ximenez De La Croix
Written on 10 April 2008
431 views

A junkyard of vintage glitz and glamor awaits for you in Las Vegas.

Neon Boneyard

Neon Boneyard

A burst of colors and vintage designs at The Neon Boneyard in Las Vegas, Nevada.

So you just realized you are down to your last twenty bucks while visiting Vegas and uncle Bill, who you just called for a loan doesn't remember you due to Alzheimer's. You have no bride to wed and the five dollar "All you can eat" buffets? well, just found out they are a thing of the past. Vegas can be an unforgiving place for those with empty pockets, but not all is lost! you can still grab your camera and head out for a rendezvous with gambling history. The Neon Museum better known as the "Boneyard" is located just north of Downtown Las Vegas, across the street from Cashman Field, just minutes from where all the tourist action takes place. The Neon Museum comprises of two city blocks of sun faded colors, peeling paint and burned out light bulbs. Vintage Americana representing an are gone by, a place where you come face to face with iconic symbols from a glamorous past. This place is bursting with colors and shapes, here you will encounter gigantic high heel shoes, sixteen feet tall pool players and removed wedding chapel signs, alongside with the enigmatic bigger than life "H" signs of the Binion's Horseshoe Hotel and Casino, a silent witness to the nights when good old Grandpa was out spending your inheritance money.
The Neon Museum is a cemetery for all things electric and forgotten. All these signs were replaced by new and vibrant ones representing a new Vegas that is as corporate as Silicon Valley can be. While some of the signs are being restored to their original glory, most of them are laid to rest forever baking in the desert sun. All the museum ask from it's visitors is a kind donation (tax deductible) along with a pledge and a promise not to use the images for commercial use (rates for professional photographer are slightly astronomical, around $2500.00 per hour), and of course reservations are highly recommended.
The Neon Museum is sure to give you a different perspective and a completely different view of the Las Vegas history. It is good clean fun and it is something you can safely show your wife when you get back home to Iowa from your "stressful" business trip.

Other photos in this article...

Motel La Concha Sassy / Neon Boneyard Reaching a New Low Ducky Neon Boneyard Neon Boneyard The Binion's Horseshoe hotel and casino "H" sign. Tropicana / Mobil Bigger than us

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