Thursday, Nov. 14, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
Nothing says "Las Vegas" like a 40-foot neon cowboy atop a horse that's mounted on a 24-foot pole in the middle of a major downtown thoroughfare.
Welcome to Fremont Street, home of the neon sign museum.
On Wednesday, Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones and a host of other dignitaries officially lit the "Horse-and-Rider," a huge neon hallmark that once beckoned tourists to the Hacienda hotel. Now, the sign welcomes tourists to the Fremont Street Experience.
It's the old Las Vegas and the new.
"It's part of our history, our heritage," said Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren, himself an avid collector of Las Vegas neon nostalgia. "It's where we were and Fremont Street is where we are. Who knows where we're going, but we'll always be the entertainment capital of the world."
The Horse-and-Rider is the first of a series of classic neon signs from early Las Vegas that will go on display on Fremont Street's pedestrian mall between Las Vegas Boulevard and Fourth Street, said Barbara Molasky, museum coordinator.
Molasky said the Horse-and-Rider sign -- which required a total refurbishing and a 16-foot hole on Las Vegas Boulevard to anchor its support -- cost about $100,000. But the $60,000 refurbishing cost was borne by Las Vegas architect Brad Friedmutter.
Eventually, all the neon signs will be underwritten by businesses, donations and sponsorships, she said. The signs will form a "neon sculpture garden" in the outdoor mall, because "you can't really enjoy neon inside."
Jones, Hammargren and Molasky were joined by City Councilman Gary Reese and Clark County Commissioner Lorranie Hunt for the lighting ceremony.
For his part, Friedmutter, who has worked on signs for The Mirage, Golden Nugget and Bally's, said he sponsored the first sign for the museum as a gesture of gratitude.
"It's a very nice way for me to say thank you," he said. "This recognizes the importance of signs and casinos on the culture of Las Vegas."
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