Visual series: Tucson's Neon Culture
What better way to light up the night than a safe, controlled ignition of a gas! Arizona Daily Star photographer Kelly Presnell revisited neon signs that dot the landscape in Tucson. Many are a throwback to a time when a handful of longtime restaurants, hotels and bars served a smaller city.
Neon is the second lightest gas, after helium. It's more expensive than gases because it's extracted from liquid air. It was introduced in the U.S. in 1923 with two signs at Packard dealership in Los Angeles. Its reddish-orange glow warms the darkness surrounding the signs.
Thanks to the efforts of many businesses, residents, sign shops, the City of Tucson and the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation, neon is once again igniting the night with a cursive glow.
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Arizona Daily Star photographer Kelly Presnell revisited neon signs that dot the landscape in Tucson. Many are a throwback to a time when a ha…
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Arizona Daily Star photographer Kelly Presnell revisited neon signs that dot the landscape in Tucson. Many are a throwback to a time when a ha…
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Arizona Daily Star photographer Kelly Presnell revisited neon signs that dot the landscape in Tucson. Many are a throwback to a time when a ha…
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Arizona Daily Star photographer Kelly Presnell revisited neon signs that dot the landscape in Tucson. Many are a throwback to a time when a ha…
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Arizona Daily Star photographer Kelly Presnell revisited neon signs that dot the landscape in Tucson. Many are a throwback to a time when a ha…
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Arizona Daily Star photographer Kelly Presnell revisited neon signs that dot the landscape in Tucson. Many are a throwback to a time when a ha…
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Arizona Daily Star photographer Kelly Presnell revisited neon signs that dot the landscape in Tucson. Many are a throwback to a time when a ha…
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Arizona Daily Star photographer Kelly Presnell revisited neon signs that dot the landscape in Tucson. Many are a throwback to a time when a ha…
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Arizona Daily Star photographer Kelly Presnell revisited neon signs that dot the landscape in Tucson. Many are a throwback to a time when a ha…
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Download a pdf of the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation guide to the notable neon signs in the Old Pueblo.
10 updates to this series since Updated
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
As featured on
Area telescopes sensitive to light pollution.
This iconic Tucson diner sign is being restored by a local museumFor Star subscribers: The neon Grill sign on display for decades in downtown Tucson is being restored to its former glory by Ignite Sign Art Museum.
