November 2022
Where We Stayed: Planet Hollywood
This post will cover my pics from the Neon Museum. I’ve been to the Museum probably about 6 times now – but it was Mike’s first visit. So we did the guided nighttime tour and the Brilliant! show. The guided tour is just what it sounds like… and always fascinating! I learn something new each time. The Brilliant! portion is a special exhibition where an artist used light projections to make old signs appear to light up — it was really neat technology and the light show was paired with music, which made it all the better. The only downside of our entire Neon Museum experience was how COLD it was. Low 40s/high 30s… which we were not adequately prepared for! We had a great time and very much enjoyed the gift shop, 10/10, would recommend.
We arrived early so we hit the gift shop.
Then drove around to stop at Jerry’s Nugget for a bathroom break.
Not to be outdone by the Silver Nugget
Then we spotted a cemetery that I just had to visit. Each gravesite was fully decorated with lights, decorations, momentos, etc. It was the most beautiful cemetery I’d ever seen. I truly admire how much Mexican culture embraces the honoring of their dead — they aren’t afraid of it, lean in, and the results are always so moving.
And then it was finally time for our Neon Museum tour.
Cold but happy.
The sign belonging to one of Vegas’ first gay bars.
Happy Shirt dry cleaning, another classic if you’re a Vegas native
My beloved Stardust sign!
And now begins the Brilliant! show
Not real lights — all projection. Cool, huh?!
The Neon Museum also features a Vegas Luminaries mural. This is Delcenia Boyd Jones, a dancer at the Moulin Rogue, which was Vegas’ first major racially integrated casino.
Liberace!
Vegas Vic!
Sammy Davis Jr.!
Kenny Kerr, “male actress” and AIDS activist
The Vegas sign artists, engineers, and installers.
Chief Hotel Court — one of the oldest signs in Vegas
Paul Revere Williams, architect
Denise Scott Brown, author and architect
Betty Willis, sign designer. She designed the Vegas sign.
Raul Rodriguez, sign designer.
Oscar Gonzalez, neon bender.
It’s so cool! Read about all the luminaries mentioned HERE!