Las Vegas History Hidden In Plain Sight (10 Photos)

Las Vegas is a resort city in the State of Nevada within the USA.  Incorporated in 1911, it’s the largest city in Nevada.  Scattered around Old Town Vegas are a number of nods to its history.  They are hidden in plain sight, so you might not have even noticed.  There are 9 fully restored signs from classic casinos scattered around old town Las Vegas.  There is also a Neon Museum with a large collection of signs in various conditions.


1: This is the entrance to the Fremont Street Experience, on the Las Vegas Blvd side. Fremont Street is part of a section referred to as Old Town, as the street itself has existed since the founding of Las Vegas. To the left of the entrance is the Hacienda Horse and Rider from the original Hacienda Hotel built in 1956. The hotel was imploded on new years eve 1997 to a televised audience, and later replaced with the current Mandalay Bay. The sign was donated to the Neon Museum, restored, and later placed in its new home.

2: The sign in the parking lot for the Neon Museum, also referred as the Neon Boneyard. The actual museum and grounds is located across the street.

3: The La Concha Motel lobby was built in 1961 and designed by architect Paul Revere Williams. It was saved from demolition in 2006 and repurposed as the Neon Museum’s visitor center.

4: Located on a median on Las Vegas Blvd across from the visitors center is a silver shoe. This shoe is from the Silver Slipper Casino, which opened in 1950 as the Golden Slipper Casino. It was shut down in 1964 on charges of cheating. It passed through the hands of recluse businessman Howard Hughes before finally being demolished in 1988.

5: This sign is special because I remember going to the Sassy Sally’s Casino as a kid because they had cheap personal sized pizzas. The casino was open on Fremont St. from 1981 to 1999.

6: The Stardust Resort continuously operated 24 hours a day for 48 years before closing in 2006. Signs from the Riviera (open for 60 years), and Fitzgeralds (became The D after filing for bankruptcy) are also visible. The oldest hotel in Vegas is the Flamingo, which has been operating continuously for 72 years!

7: The Boneyards winding paths contain many neon and lighted signs from the past. You can’t help but have a nostalgic feeling wandering around amongst them.

8: The huge skull from the pirate-themed Treasure Island Casino opened in 1993. The pirate theme was later abandoned and the casino was rebranded to simply TI.


9-10: You might be led to believe these neon signs are from days past, but you’d be wrong. They are recent creations. These include Oscar’s Martini glass built to commemorate the former mayor of Las Vegas Oscar Goodman. They do have a classic feel to them.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *