National Neon Sign Museum
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National Neon Sign Museum

The National Neon Sign Museum is located in the heart of The Dalles downtown historic district. The museum captures the history, craftsmanship, and culture that shaped America, as seen through the lens of the signage and advertising industry.

With its focus on the evolution of the electric sign, from pre-electric and gold leaf signage to the invention and widespread use of plastic, the museum's current assets represent one of the largest collections of neon storefront signs in the world. Full installation is scheduled to be completed in 2018.

The collection is filled with an expansive range of signage and artifacts related to the sign industry, including many one-of-a-kind signs and displays that cannot be seen on public display anywhere else in the world. Along with the animated and figural Dog n' Suds sign and the Howard Johnson's Simple Simon, the collection also includes one of the rarest groupings of West Coast petroleum signs ever assembled, including Richfield-Eagle, Seaside, Polly, Associated, and the Buffalo sign.

Some of America's long-lost icons will be gallery displayed on full-scale, authentic storefront replications. Among the many noteworthy pieces in this singular collection are Big Bear Drive In, Dawn's Donuts, Dog n' Suds, Town Pride Frozen Custard, Greyhound Bus Depot, as well as thousands of vintage pieces of documentation and ephemera.