‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada’ is an iconic sign that’s nearly as famous as Sin City itself and is a very popular destination for Las Vegas weddings! It’s something every couple driving into the city for a Las Vegas wedding sees, and if considering saying “I do” Vegas-style, check out a few excellent facts about the sign. Its history is pretty darn nifty:
Fact #1: The Sign Was Designed By A Woman
Commercial artist and Nevada native Betty Willis was the woman behind the famous sign. Her creation was gifted to the city in 1959. Willis was brought up outside of Sin City and attended school in Los Angeles before working for Western Neon in 1952. Other signs created by Willis include the Moulin Rouge Hotel, the Buxom Motel Blue Angel, and the Stardust Casino. The gifted designer died in April of 2015 at the age of 91.
“We thought the town was fabulous, so we added the word,” she once remarked.
Fact #2: The Sign Isn’t Actually Located In Vegas
Ironically, the so-fabulous welcome sign isn’t within the city’s limits. The official address is 5100 Las Vegas Boulevard South, which is located in the neighboring town of Paradise. A small parking lot is found next to the sign for visitors to get out and snap photos.
Fact #3: The Shape Is Unique
The sign’s diamond shape and style is unique in regards to signs created before and after it. The diamond shape pays homage to Nevada’s nickname as “The Silver State,” while the word “Welcome” is backed by seven “silver dollars” (one for each letter).
Another interesting design fact about the sign is that it was created in the Googie architecture style. “Googie” was a popular design trend in the ‘40s and ‘50s that blended futurism with the atomic age.
These are merely some of the fascinating facts surrounding the classic sign!
Learn about Las Vegas wedding venues and packages by contacting Las Vegas Strip Weddings today.
