Section Menu
Las Vegas Sign | America 250 Nevada
america250-las-vegas-sign-3.jpg
Betty Willis, designer of the "Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas" sign on Las Vegas Boulevard South, poses at the iconic sign on May 13, 1998.
Courtesy of Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Archive
Las Vegas Sign
Created in 1959
Breaking barriers in the male-dominated neon sign industry, Betty Willis designed the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign in 1959. Today, it welcomes nearly 38 million visitors to Clark County each year and remains a symbol of Las Vegas. A lesser-known detail is the message on the back: “Drive Carefully, Come Back Soon,” designed to warmly bid farewell to departing travelers and welcome them back for their next stay. Clark County uses the sign’s global recognition to promote community awareness, public programs, and civic initiatives that connect with both residents and visitors alike.
Following the October One tragedy on the Las Vegas Strip in 2017, the Las Vegas sign transformed into a destination of healing, serving as a temporary memorial for those who lost their lives. The Clark County Museum preserves an archive of items left at the memorial, documenting how the community came together in remembrance of those lost and thus demonstrating Las Vegas's resilience.
People:
- Betty Whitehead Willis, 1923-2015
- Born in Overton and raised in Las Vegas, trailblazing commercial artist Betty Willis graduated from Las Vegas High School in 1941 before pursuing art studies in Los Angeles. Her work has shaped Las Vegas through her iconic designs. Beyond the Las Vegas sign, Willis’ legacy includes the Moulin Rouge Hotel sign and the Blue Angel Motel sign.
Learn more:
- https://businessinclarkcounty.com/clark-county-advantage/clark-county-incorporated/
- https://press.lvcva.com/news-releases/las-vegas-welcomes-38.5-million-visitors-in-a-complex-year-marked-by-shifting-travel-dynamics/s/eb1a5d19-71e6-4df5-b0da-c20fc38fa2ac
- https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/residents/about_clark_county/
- https://clarkcountymuseum.pastperfectonline.com/WebObject
- https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/lasvegas-willis/
- https://foreveronememorial.org/
america250-las-vegas-sign-2.jpg
Courtesy of the Clark County Museum
For questions or comments, please reach out to the Clark County Museum at ccmuseum@clarkcountynv.gov.