The Neon Boneyard

The term “boneyard” refers to sites that store obsolete items, either whole or in parts, which will generally be broken up for scrap or disposal. Different types of boneyards—such as automotive boneyards or industrial boneyards—often include parts stripped from older equipment, which may be useful to repair contemporary hardware. Currently, The Neon Museum’s Neon Boneyard contains more than 250 signs, many of which were loaned or donated by YESCO (Young Electric Sign Company). YESCO have been active collaborators with The Neon Museum since its founding in 1996, and have assisted with everything from regular maintenance and repairs to the restoration of the 82-foot tall Hard Rock Café guitar signage in 2019.

Museography is the process of organizing and presenting a collection in a museum to create engagement that emotionally connects visitors with an exhibit. By promoting scholarship and an enriching experience, museography can transform collections of objects into impactful stories. The museography of the Neon Boneyard, for example, was inspired by YESCO’s original commercial boneyard, once home to many iconic Las Vegas signs.