Neon

Explore photos tagged Neon.

Lit up theater sign in Minneapolis

Lit up theater sign in Minneapolis

January 2024 — Orpheum Theatre on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. January 2024.

Orpheum Theatre Sign lit

Orpheum Theatre Sign lit

January 2024 — The Orpheum Theatre in downtown Minneapolis in January 2024.

Kabukichō Ichiban-gai Gate, Shinjuku, Tokyo

Kabukichō Ichiban-gai Gate, Shinjuku, Tokyo

March 2023 — The iconic illuminated gate marking Kabukichō Ichiban-gai, photographed in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Installed in the late 1960s and redesigned several times since, the red archway has become one of the most recognizable entrances to Tokyo’s largest entertainment district. Kabukichō developed after World War II as a planned theater district—its name comes from a never-built kabuki theater—before evolving into a dense zone of restaurants, bars, cinemas, and nightlife venues. The gate’s bright bulbs and bold lettering serve as a symbolic threshold into the neighborhood’s tightly packed streets, which remain active late into the night.

Reflected Neon “PARK” Sign on 5th Street, Minneapolis

Reflected Neon “PARK” Sign on 5th Street, Minneapolis

July 2022 — A bright magenta-and-red “PARK” marquee glows above 5th Street in downtown Minneapolis, its arrow pointing toward one of the city’s long-running parking ramps. The large mirrored surface on the right captures a full duplicate of the sign, emphasizing the heavy neon presence that once defined the downtown entertainment and retail district. Signs like this were installed in the mid-20th century as automobile traffic surged and developers converted older commercial buildings into multi-level garages to serve Nicollet Mall, the Gateway renewal area, and the growing high-rise core. At street level, the rows of construction barrels and lane closures reflect Minneapolis’s ongoing cycle of roadway and transit upgrades — a pattern familiar in this part of the city as utility work, sidewalk rebuilds, and streetcar-era infrastructure get modern replacements. Even with the constant change, the surviving neon parking signs remain some of the most recognizable visual anchors of the nighttime downtown streetscape.

Brit’s Pub neon sign, Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis

Brit’s Pub neon sign, Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis

June 2022 — Brit's Pub on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis.

Dulono’s Pizza Neon Sign, Downtown Minneapolis

Dulono’s Pizza Neon Sign, Downtown Minneapolis

April 2022 — Dulono's Pizza in downtown Minneapolis

Cowboy Slim’s and Williams Uptown, Hennepin & Lagoon, Minneapolis Night

Cowboy Slim’s and Williams Uptown, Hennepin & Lagoon, Minneapolis Night

March 2022 — Cowboy Slim's and Williams Uptown are illuminated at night on the corner of Hennepin Avenue and Lagoon Avenue in Minneapolis's Uptown neighborhood. Cowboy Slim's, a bar and saloon, features prominent neon signage, while Williams Uptown, a food and drink establishment, is lit by its facade. This corner has long served as a commercial and entertainment hub within Uptown, known for its vibrant nightlife. The businesses at this location contribute to the area's reputation as a popular destination for dining and socializing.

Minneapolis Nail & Spa Neon Signs

Minneapolis Nail & Spa Neon Signs

November 2021

Hum’s Liquors Neon Sign, Lyndale Avenue, Minneapolis

Hum’s Liquors Neon Sign, Lyndale Avenue, Minneapolis

November 2021

Treat Yo Self Neon Sign, Lake Street, Minneapolis

Treat Yo Self Neon Sign, Lake Street, Minneapolis

November 2021 — Treat Yo Self neon sign on Lake Street

Pillsbury’s Best Flour and the lit up water tower

Pillsbury’s Best Flour and the lit up water tower

July 2021 — The former Pillsbury flour mill near downtown Minneapolis. It's since been renovated into condos.

Midtown Exchange neon sign at night, Minneapolis

Midtown Exchange neon sign at night, Minneapolis

June 2020 — Midtown Exchange, Minneapolis

Built in Minneapolis

Photographs showcasing change over time

Browse by location, move through long-running series, or start with recent work.