Admittedly, I learned about Las Vegas’ Neon Museum from an Amazing Race episode where contestants were asked to grab a lightbulb from the museum’s Neon Boneyard.

The collection looked incredible on my TV, so I scheduled a visit the next time I visited Sin City.

The Neon Museum has an impressive outdoor collection of Las Vegas’ iconic casino and other (equally elaborate) business signs. Choose a guided tour at dusk so you can see the signs in twilight. Once it gets dark, some signs are self-illuminated and others are lit by museum-furnished accent lighting. The tour follows a one-way path through the Boneyard, accompanied by a guide’s commentary. Photos are encouraged!

The signs are displayed artfully, grouped by scale and installation to provide maximum aesthetic effect. Many signs are completely illuminated and recently restored, but others (or whatever pieces are left of the sign) show extensive signs of deterioration. The juxtaposition of new and old, whole signs and partial, keeps visitors engaged. There is so much to look at!

It is a thoroughly inspiring experience to see the signs up close and appreciate the creativity, money, and craft that business owners and makers invested in these signs to make their establishments stand out in a town where everything glitters for attention.