Las Vegas may be known for casinos and nightlife, but there’s actually a lot to do with kids! The Neon Museum is a great outing for the whole family because it’s safe, fun, and educational. Here, history is told through towering signs, bold colors, and fascinating stories.
For children, a visit to The Neon Museum can be an opportunity to ask questions, spot unusual details, and experience a side of Las Vegas they may not see anywhere else. A little preparation can help make the experience more engaging for younger visitors and more enjoyable for the whole family.
We’ve covered practical tips on visiting the Neon Museum with kids before (with details like museum rules and tips for being outside). So in addition to that, here are some ways to make your experience at The Neon Museum with kids one to remember!
Think of It as a Treasure Hunt
One of the easiest ways to keep children engaged during a museum visit is to turn it into a treasure hunt adventure.
Instead of focusing on dates or historical facts, encourage kids to look for specific details throughout the collection, such as the tallest sign they can find, a sign shaped like an animal, neon tubes in unique colors, different letters, or signs that include symbols like stars, arrows, or other decorative elements.
You can even create fun challenges, such as guessing which sign is the oldest or finding the sign that looks most different from modern Las Vegas.
Children often notice details that adults overlook, making the experience interactive for everyone.
Use the Signs to Start Conversations
Many of the signs in the collection come from hotels, restaurants, and businesses that no longer exist. For younger visitors, that can become an opportunity to talk about how cities change over time.
Questions like these can help transform a museum visit into a conversation rather than a lecture:
- What do you think this place was like?
- Would you want to visit this hotel?
- How is Las Vegas different today?
- Why do you think people saved this sign?
For older children, it can also be interesting to compare vintage signs to the digital displays they see throughout Las Vegas today.
Introduce Kids to Design in an Approachable Way
Many children are naturally drawn to bright colors, unusual shapes, and things that light up. The Neon Museum offers all three.
Without realizing it, kids can learn a great deal about graphic design, architecture, and advertising simply by observing the collection.
Ask them:
- Which sign catches your attention first?
- Which colors stand out the most?
- Which sign would make you want to visit a restaurant or hotel?
- Which sign would you redesign?
These simple observations encourage creativity while helping children understand how signs were designed to attract visitors. And for kids especially interested in topics like engineering, architecture, and design, check out our summer camps that focus on these principles!
Let Their Imagination Fill in the Missing Pieces
One thing that makes The Neon Museum unique is that many signs are preserved rather than fully restored. Some still show the effects of time, weather, and decades of use.
For children, this can make the experience more interesting because a partially restored sign is full of potential. Kids can picture what the sign looked like when it first lit up the Las Vegas skyline, imagine the people who may have walked beneath it years ago, and make decisions about what they would want it to look like if they were to restore it.
You can even create stories around the signs you see. What kind of visitors stayed at a hotel? What shows might have been advertised there? What would a night in Las Vegas have looked like fifty years ago?
Encourage Questions
Children often ask questions that adults would never think to ask, such as why a sign is so big, how the sign gets electricity, who made the signs, or what happened to the buildings they came from.
These questions are part of what makes a museum visit memorable. The Neon Museum’s collection provides countless opportunities to explore history, engineering, art, design, and storytelling through unique and fun artifacts.
Capture a Few Family Photos
Of course, no family trip to the museum is complete without some family photos!
The collection’s vibrant colors, vintage typography, and iconic Las Vegas imagery create photo opportunities that are very different from other spots like you might find on the Strip. And don’t worry about getting the perfect picture! The best memories are when kids are exploring and reacting naturally to what they discover.
A Different Kind of Las Vegas Experience for Families
The Neon Museum offers the chance to slow down and explore the stories behind Las Vegas. Children love the bright lights, colorful signs, and the history behind what they see. It’s the perfect spot for curious minds of all ages!
Whether your child is interested in art, design, photography, storytelling, or simply enjoys seeing giant neon signs up close, a visit to The Neon Museum can turn a family outing into an experience that sparks curiosity long after the tour ends. Get your tickets here!
The Neon Museum’s ‘Duck Duck Shed’ returns Oct. 23-26, offering unprecedented access into the stories of Las Vegas
