The "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign, in the center of bustling Las Vegas Blvd, makes for a great place to start your explorations. In a city famous for neon signs, this one reigns supreme, and is the unofficial beginning of the Strip.
Designed by Betty Willis at the end of the 1950s, this sign is a classic photo op and a reminder of Vegas' past, and these days it even has its own free parking lot. Only southbound drivers can enter the lot, and they're greeted by the sign's flip-side reminder to "Drive Carefully" and "Come Back Soon." Try to get here by midmorning to avoid long lines of jovial, selfie-seeking tourists.
For those who fall in love with the sign, there are plenty of souvenirs you can pick up with its likeness, including posters, ashtrays, keychains, shot glasses, mugs, shirts and the list goes on. That's because the artist never copyrighted the sign, instead considering it a gift to the city. As it turned out, "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" became iconic, in part, because there were never any restrictions on its use.
