What to Expect at the Neon Museum | Las Vegas

PLANNING A VISIT TO THE NEON MUSEUM?

We’ve got all the info you need! We’ve spent months traveling the Southwest, and the Neon Museum is one of the most unique and fun attractions we have come across. We’ll fill you in on all the details and what to expect when visiting the museum.

Neon signs are an integral part of the history of Las Vegas, and you can’t go more than a few steps without viewing the warmly glowing signs enticing visitors to step inside. As signs are replaced, many find themselves within the large outdoor exhibits found at the Neon Museum in Las Vegas, giving visitors a look at the Las Vegas of the past.

The Neon Museum was founded in 1996 with the mission of collecting, preserving, and exhibiting the iconic Las Vegas signs. Today, there are over 200 signs on display in the Neon Boneyard.

If you are interested in the history of Las Vegas, visiting the Neon Museum should be on your list of the best things to do in Las Vegas. It is a great museum that will bring to life the history of Las Vegas. It’s conveniently located close to both strip hotels and Las Vegas hotels near the airport.

The Neon Museum is also a great stop if you’re looking for things to do in Las Vegas with kids. It is a really fun stop to let kids explore and see the bright lights that Las Vegas is famous for without the extracurricular activities you will find on the Strip at night.

How much is admission to the Neon Museum?

The Neon Museum Las Vegas has two different ticket types. The first is the general admission for the Boneyard area. This ticket gives you an hour-long experience in the 2.5-acre area with over 200 signs.

You can wander the area at your own pace to take pictures and read about the historic signs. Additionally, we loved being able to come and go as we wanted and circling back around to visit some of our favorite signs again.

The second is the Brilliant! Experience. This is a 25-minute show that uses light projections to illuminate about 40 signs that have lights that aren’t working. As a result, the light projections make it appear like these signs have been restored.

The light show is combined with music and archival footage to give viewers a look into the history of Las Vegas.

Neon Museum Ticket Price

General Admission During the Day: $20 (Locals $16) – One hour experience in the Main Boneyard
Guided Tours at Night: $28 (Locals $24) – 45-minute guided tour of the Main Boneyard
Brilliant! at Night: $23 (Locals $19) – 25-minute light show in the North Gallery
Spanish Tours at 7:30 pm or 8:30 pm – $28 (Locals $24) – 45-minute guided tour of the Main Boneyard in Spanish

Children six and under are free.

Whether you are going on a guided tour or general admission, you will purchase tickets for a specific time. This helps the Neon Museum make sure the Boneyard doesn’t become too crowded.

Where is the Neon Museum Located?

770 Las Vegas Blvd N, Las Vegas, NV 89101

The Neon Sign Museum is found just north of the strip on Las Vegas Blvd at 770 Las Vegas Blvd N. It is about a 4-minute drive or 15-minute walk from the Fremont Street experience, approximately 0.7 miles.

There is free parking next door at the Cashman Center although this parking lot can fill up on busy days. If you don’t have a car, it is a short Uber ride from the Strip.

Neon Sign Museum Hours

The Neon Museum is open daily. Hours do vary seasonally, so check the hours before planning a visit.  

Best Time to Visit the Neon Museum

We visited about 30 minutes before sunset, and we loved this time! Just before sunset is the best time to take pictures. Another bonus of visiting at this time was we got to watch the lights from the signs really start to pop against the dark sky.

We were able to have our Boneyard General Admission time right before our Brilliant! Experience. The Brilliant! Experience is only available in the evening.

If you are not planning on the Brilliant! Experience, the Neon Museum is one of the best things to do during the day in Las Vegas. You will get to see more signs if you visit during the day because not all of the signs in the Boneyard are lit up.

Visiting at dusk will give you the best of both worlds because you can see all of the signs before it’s dark out but you can still see the lights towards the end of your tour or hour visit.

This is the most popular time to visit the museum so it is a good idea to buy your tickets ahead of time to ensure you can get in when you would like.

Tim Burton’s Neon Museum at Night

Visiting the Neon Museum at night is a great way to see the fabulous neon lights on the restored signs. When it is dark outside the lights really pop and are really pretty. You can either explore the Boneyard on your own or you can go on a guided tour.

It is harder to get a picture with yourself and the signs at night so if you’re wanting to be in a lot of the photos yourself, consider visiting about 30 minutes before sunset.

If you are visiting at night with kids, it is a good idea to keep a close eye on them. There is broken glass and rusty metal throughout the Boneyard. The museum recommends night tours for visitors ages 12 and up.

We were there about 30 minutes before sunset and didn’t have a problem visiting with our kids. Just be aware of your surroundings.

Neon Museum Tours

A guided tour is a great way to experience the Neon Sign Museum in Las Vegas. A museum interpreter will take you through the Main Boneyard sharing interesting facts and stories about the signs. The signs range from the 1930s to the present day.

How long is the Neon Museum Tour?

The Neon Museum tour lasts for 45 minutes. These tours are only offered at night.

Is the Neon Museum outside?

The Neon Museum is outside. There is a small Visitors’ Center housed inside the former La Concha Motel lobby, but the rest of the museum is outside. The Neon Boneyard Main Collection and the Neon Boneyard North Gallery are both outside.

Can I take pictures in the Neon Museum?

Cameras, camera equipment, and video recording aren’t allowed during regular visits. If you are interested in bringing a camera and equipment into the Neon Museum you can book a photography tour that runs once a month.

You are allowed to take pictures on your phone or tablet. Pictures are for personal use only. You cannot use them for promotional or business purposes.

Exhibits at the Neon Museum in Las Vegas

The main exhibit areas in Tim Burton’s Neon Museum are the Neon Boneyard Main Connection and the Neon Boneyard North Gallery. There is also a visitors’ center inside the former La Concha Motel lobby.

What is the Neon Boneyard?

The main exhibit area in the Neon Museum is known as the Neon Boneyard or Main Boneyard. There are more than 200 functioning signs. These signs have come from Las Vegas hotels, casinos, businesses, and attractions that have either upgraded to a new sign or no longer exist. You can either explore the Neon Boneyard on your own or go on a guided tour.

At sunset, the signs in the Boneyard are illuminated with ground lighting. Some of the more famous pieces inside the Boneyard are Stardust, Sahara, Ugly Duckling Car Sales, La Concha, and letters from Moulin Rouge.

The “Neon Boneyard” is about 2.6 acres. Keep an eye out for the museum docents throughout the Boneyard who are more than willing to answer questions and tell stories.

Brilliant at the Neon Museum

A great add-on if you want to lengthen your experience at the Neon Museum is the Brilliant show. It is a 25-minute show that uses lasers and projectors to shine lights onto the signs. The signs do not light up on their own but appear to be lit up through the lasers.

There is a light show as well as an audio soundtrack that augments the vintage Vegas vibes. There is seating in the show area. We really enjoyed the Brilliant show and would highly recommend adding it to your visit. There is a separate ticket needed for the Brilliant show.

How long does it take to go through the Neon Museum?

If you are touring the Neon Boneyard on your own, your ticket is good for spending one hour in the Boneyard. If you are going on a tour, it will take 45 minutes.

History of the Neon Museum

The Neon Museum was started in 1996 by the City of Las Vegas and the Allied Arts Council of Southern Nevada. Its purpose was to preserve the neon signs after they are removed. Today, they work to collect, preserve and study the iconic Las Vegas signs.

In the 1980s, the iconic signs from The Sands Hotel and Casino (located near many Fremont Street Hotels) were thrown away after being replaced with a new sign. After the sign was scrapped, the city realized they needed to preserve these signs. They collected signs for about ten years before opening the Neon Museum in 1996.

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