Monday, June 8, 2015

Stairway to Neon Heaven-My Favorite Things

Vintage Neon Heaven is a favorite Facebook Group.  It's a place where neon sign lovers share photos, history and mourn the loss of signs gone by.  The growth and popularity of neon signs in the United States spanned 1920-1960; after that, many ended up corroded eyesores or replaced and turned into junkyard ghosts.

In Tucson, Arizona, preservationists created a neon project to save signs that once beckoned motorists into the cool "air refrigeration" of motels and restaurants along Miracle Mile.  Since I've been here, my "hobby" is photographing and sharing the signs on Instagram (@retroranch).  While many have been restored and/or relocated as part of the local project, there are still opportunities to find Tucson neon "in the wild."



























































The Tucson Airport control tower has been a neon beacon welcoming visitors since the late 1950s.  I was surprised to see a new tower going up as I arrived this Summer, but progress marches forward.  The good news is that the old tower will be preserved.  Whether a journey near or far, that feeling of having made it "home" starts when I see the Tucson tower.




These are a few of my favorite things, day or night.