New home for Neon Museum

Friday, April 11, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

The City Council will consider a proposal Monday that would put the Neon Museum inside the Fremont Street Experience instead of outside it as planned.

The council also will consider a proposal to add its sixth piece to the project -- the old Chief Motel sign, now in the hands of the Tiberti family of local builders.

The proposal is to put the pieces inside the pedestrian mall instead of around the big red parking garage, through March 24, 2002.

The city would be responsible to "at its sole cost, return the pedestrian mall to the condition it was prior to the commencement of this letter of agreement," according to the proposed contract with the Fremont Street Experience Limited Liability Co.

Currently just one piece, the old Hacienda Hotel horse and rider, is up and operating at the outdoor museum. Earlier this year, the city approved a deal that would bring five more nostalgic neon signs to the area.

The Chief Motel sign would be placed on loan to the museum from the Tiberti family. The city would attain the right to use it for promotional purposes.

The initiative to move the museum into the pedestrian mall notes that:

* The community would benefit from the public art, which is a major part of Las Vegas history.

* This agreement allows a place for the installation of these restored and refurbished signs so they can be enjoyed by Las Vegas residents and tourists.

* It will bring new energy to the downtown area.

Other signs destined for the museum include the Aladdin's lamp from the Aladdin hotel-casino on the south end of the Strip, the Fifth Street Liquor sign from one of the city's oldest package liquor stores and bars, located on Las Vegas Boulevard (formerly Fifth Street) near downtown, and the old Flame restaurant sign from the Strip at Desert Inn Road.

All of the pieces for the museum, some badly rusted from years of exposure to the elements in the so-called YESCO graveyard, will be restored through private donations after the city obtains them.

The City Council approved establishment of the long-planned museum last Sept. 18 as a means of promoting the historical and artistic significance of neon signs.

The city entered a seven-year deal with Young Electric Sign to obtain signs. The city also gained exclusive rights to use the former YESCO-owned signs in literature, marketing and merchandising materials.