Why a Billboard & Neon Museum?

Billboards and neon signage are an essential part of the U.S. travelscape. Their messages have entertained us, informed us, and reflected the culture of the era. They’ve even been called the art gallery of the American highway.

The sign industry is undergoing a digital revolution. Techniques such as hand painting, sheet tiling and pasting are fading away. Use of neon is challenged by the emergence of LED technologies.

These techniques along with the stories of these pioneers and artists need to be preserved. The art and messages once showcased is classic and speaks to a time America is rapidly forgetting. These need to be brought back to the public view. Many citizens are dismayed when classic commercial signs that have become a part of the community landscape are torn down or consigned to either bone yards or the landfill.

The Billboard Museum Association, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, was formally organized in 2013 to address these concerns.

Our Vision

Our goal is to create a fun, educational, and immersive experience that captures the imagination by exploring the unique art and rich outdoor, roadside advertising heritage of America dating from the late 1800s. We want to create a space that will generate the kind of nostalgic excitement associated with summer road trips, family vacations, freedom of expression in advertising, and the way America views itself. 

While we await opportunities to create our own space, we are excited to announce we are working with the Oklahoma Historical Society, the Oklahoma History Center, and the Friends of the Oklahoma History Center groups to create a showstopping display of historic neon signs (some of which come from our collection) and billboard replicas on the grounds of the Oklahoma History Center.

The Friends Group was able to apply for grant money to restore the signs currently under consideration for the Park. See Friends of the Oklahoma History Center Grant page that provides more information.

However, funds still need to be raised to actually create the infrastructure for the Park. Once we have more information on that, we will pass it along.

In the meantime, we need your support to help keep the vision alive. Visit our Membership Page. You can make your online donation there.