Vegas Museum Showcases Augmented Reality
The augmented reality show Brilliant! is only one of the many reasons to visit this Vegas Museum. Read our article below to see our top things to be excited about…Are you visiting Las Vegas and eager for a unique adventure? If so, The Neon Museum in Las Vegas is the perfect getaway where you can learn about Las Vegas history while taking many memorable pictures with your family.
The Neon Museum, a non-profit 501(c)3 institution founded in 1996, sits on 2.27 acres and is dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying, and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs. Attractive features within the museum include signs from old casinos and businesses. Its visitors’ center, officially opened on October 27, 2012, is the restored lobby shell from the former La Concha Motel.
The Neon Museum receives more than 150,000 visitors annually and it’s easy to see why. The exhibition gives visitors a look at Las Vegas’ past. Each guided tour gives you a glimpse of 22 fully-restored iconic Las Vegas signs plus 200+ ground illuminated pieces that entice and urge visitors to step inside. The tour that takes place at night takes 45 minutes to one hour.
These are the top features you will love to see during your visit to the Las Vegas Neon museum:
Brilliant! Jackpot
Brilliant! Jackpot, created by Craig Winslow, offers a magical and immersive audiovisual experience that redefines how you explore Las Vegas’ rich history.
You can travel through history through sight and sound, as Brilliant! reanimates The Neon Museum’s iconic vintage signs that highlight the North Gallery. It’s famous for being the largest augmented reality experience in Vegas that leaves a lasting impression.
In the 45-minute Brilliant! show, light projections illuminate about 40 non-working signs with lights to make them appear restored. And as part of this breathtaking show, viewers can enjoy music and archival footage that is deeply immersive. What’s more, the neon lights are synced to the music; it’s mesmerizing to see them coming to life.
La Concha Visitors’ Center
The iconic La Concha Visitor’s Center, located inside the historic shell-shaped La Concha Motel lobby, is the next best place to visit at the Vegas Museum. The striking curvilinear building was designed by the acclaimed architect Paul Revere Williams, and it features Atomic Age and Space Age shapes and motifs.
Paul Revere Williams was one of the most successful architects of the 20th century. In addition to La Concha, his other renowned commissions include the Los Angeles County Courthouse, the Roosevelt Naval Base, the Beverly Hills Hotel, Guardian Angel Cathedral, Howard University, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
La Concha, originally constructed in 1961, was saved from demolition in 2005. The next year, it was relocated from Las Vegas Boulevard South to the Neon Museum to serve as its visitor’s center.
The rehabilitated signs include a section of the main roadside sign and the mosaic lobby sign. Within the refurbished center, you can find references to the original interior design elements during your visit here.
The Neon Boneyard
A visit to Las Vegas Neon Museum is incomplete without a guided tour of The Neon Boneyard, especially after dark. The in-situ art environment of the Neon Boneyard is unsurpassed anywhere.
The scale and color of the neon lights are mind-blowing. The dazzling lights have a life to them, even long after the lights go out. If you love the bright and beautifully-colored neon lights of Las Vegas, then a tour of The Neon Museum is worth your visit.
In the Neon Boneyard, you can experience, up close, the city’s rich history as it’s told through marquees and see historical examples of the casino signs and the iconic hotel for which Las Vegas became famous. The Main Boneyard contains 22 fully restored and re-illuminated iconic Las Vegas signs and more than 200+ unrestored pieces which are, at sunset, illuminated with ground lighting.. The Neon Boneyard is also available for personal and commercial photo/video shoots.
The Neon Boneyard North Gallery
The North Gallery is used for photoshoots, weddings, and education. This unforgettable Las Vegas venue is both a vintage and modern affair. And although it’s smaller than the main gallery, you will love the interior with a beautiful, newly refurbished space.
The Neon Boneyard North Gallery features unrestored signs from iconic places such as Caesars Palace, the Golden Nugget, New York New York, Lady Luck, Pioneer Club, Stardust, and the Liberace Museum.
The signs in the North Gallery are non-functional, but at night, they are lit up with projected augmented reality and LED lights. The display is a preservation of the city’s most distinctive architectural landmarks. It’s the perfect venue to capture memorable photos and learn about Las Vegas history.
Visitors’ Guide: When Should I Visit Las Vegas Neon Museum?
A midday visit is a good idea only if you come prepared for the Las Vegas heat. The Neon Museum is an all-outdoor venue under the Las Vegas sun. The best time to visit is early evening if you want to catch the bright neon lights and experience the immersive augmented reality projections.
If you visit during the day, dress to the conditions as the neon boneyard is outdoors. Las Vegas day temperatures can peak at 46°C (115°F) during summer with lows of 1.7°C (35°F) during winter. When exploring during summer, use sunscreen,, and carry water, sunglasses, and a sunhat. The glass and metal reflect the sun which can amplify.
The Las Vegas Neon Museum membership is the perfect gift for that history-loving family member or that special retro-seeking friend. Come enjoy the rich history of iconic Las Vegas in the best historic preservation in the area.
