The Neon Museum of Saint Louis Lights Up Route 66

In its heyday, Route 66 was lined with neon signs that bewitched motorists and lured them into roadside haunts. Preserving the nostalgic icons, the relatively new Neon Museum of Saint Louis is a fitting addition to our stretch of the Mother Road.

Open four days a month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the electric attraction is worth a planned pit stop, as it combines classic neon signs with contemporary neon art.

Entering under the NEON MUSEUM sign that features the Gateway Arch at sunrise, a scintillating PARK sign will catch your eye. Found in the parking lot of The Big Top – home to Circus Flora – it adds flair to the space, bridging art, science and history to serve as a vibrant symbol of St. Louis’ unique cultural legacy. Designed by architectural firm HOK, it directed revelers to parking areas of the Grand Center Arts District in the 1980s, and it was donated to the Neon Museum of Saint Louis by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation.

The hot pink CAFE sign above the bar has St. Louis roots, too. Created for Kick Start Cafe inside Michael’s Motorcycles, which sold antique motorcycles out of the building that now houses the Neon Museum of Saint Louis, the double-sided sign is made of baked enamel. Around the bar, you can also read “WE DELIVER,” “NEON SIGNS” and “THANK YOU” on colorful artifacts. Look closely at the latter – originally produced to guide people out of a local car wash, it was crafted with a single glass tube bent to the will of the artist.

Tucked into the back of the museum, the MY SCHNUCKS BRINGS IT HOME sign proudly promotes a local grocery store chain. Founded by Edwin Schnuck in 1939, Schnuck Markets currently operates more than 100 stores in four Midwest states, and this sign remains from a series of television commercials shot in 1983.

Next to that, THE RAGING RHINO sign belongs to Deborah Katon, an independent artist and the founder of the Neon Museum of Saint Louis. “Although it hasn’t been confirmed, rumors suggest The Raging Rhino was a nightclub at the Lake of the Ozarks,” Katon says. “If you remember The Raging Rhino, please stop by the museum to check out the collection and share your stories.”

Other illuminated words such as HAIRY, EDDIE, BOSS DOGS and CAFE RACER dance across the museum, making it difficult to concentrate on a single piece. “The enormous glass doors of the building reflect the neon lights,” Katon explains. “So, when you’re inside, you feel like you’re in a kaleidoscope.”

“Neon is very enticing,” she continues. “Bright, bold colors stimulate dopamine release, and when you add electricity, you feel positive emotions such as joy and excitement. That’s why bars are covered with neon signs to this day.”

Tours of the Neon Museum of Saint Louis delve into the science behind neon signs, the history of the museum’s signs and the temporary exhibitions of contemporary neon art throughout the space. Katon promises that you’ll learn a thing or two and leave on a high.

As you journey along Route 66, don’t miss other St. Louis stops such as the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, the National Museum of Transportation and Ted Drewes!