Betty Willis
Designer of the landmark face and its famous welcome language.
History
A postcard with architecture inside.
Betty Willis gave Las Vegas a compact roadside language: diamond, star, bulbs, script, and farewell.
Design read
Googie, neon, and a red star that does half the talking.
1959
Built
25 ft
Height
2009
NRHP
Googie roadside sign design
Roadside optimism compressed into one sign.
Commissioned and installed
Clark County approved Western Neon's winning bid, and Betty Willis designed a welcoming roadside icon with bulbs, neon, silver-dollar circles, and an eight-point star.
Safe public access begins
The first formal parking and pedestrian access made the sign a proper public photo stop instead of a risky median dash.
National Register listing
The sign was added to the National Register of Historic Places, cementing its status as more than a souvenir backdrop.
Access expands again
Additional spaces, crosswalks, traffic signals, and cosmetic work responded to the site's constant visitor pressure.
Photo references
The history page should show its evidence.
Each reference image is stored locally and credits its source record.
CC BY-SA 4.0Front sign at night
Famartin
CC0Daylight front view
Hermann Luyken
CC BY-SA 4.0Reverse message
Famartin
CC BY-SA 4.0Portrait composition
Dietmar Rabich
CC BY-SA 4.0Plaza approach
Famartin
Public domainArchive showgirl frame
Carol M. Highsmith
CC BY 3.0South Strip context
kl91711
CC BY-SA 4.0Flower tribute foreground
Rmvisuals
CC BY-SA 4.0Side-angle portrait
Alexander Migl
CC BY 2.0Reverse side by day
Stephanie Harvey
Assistance