LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — As the iconic Tropicana prepares to make way for a new stadium on the Strip, a piece of its storied past will continue to shine at the Neon Museum in downtown Las Vegas.

The museum retains the original Tropicana neon sign, offering a nostalgic glimpse into the city’s vibrant history.

Aaron Berger, of the Neon Museum, expressed his excitement about the sign’s preservation. “This has been installed, so when you look at the sign, the darker colored neon goes back to ’76,” Berger said. “It gives me chills to think that he lives on here in the museum.”

The museum not only preserves the sign, but also invites the public to contribute their personal stories about the Tropicana. Through a project called RACHEL, visitors can capture their memories, which will become part of the museum’s permanent collection. “We are the story and we installed RACHEL to capture 90 stories in ten days,” Berger said.

Anna Velasquez, a participant in the RACHEL project, shared her emotional connection with the Tropicana. “Vegas was new to me, and the Tropicana was part of that,” Velasquez said. “I will always have that memory of my mother and my grandmother.”

Shawn Coomer, another attendee, reminisced about his childhood adventures at the Tropicana. “I have memories of nighttime water slides and the looks on the guards’ faces,” Coomer said. “It reminds me of what a special place this was.”

The museum’s efforts to capture these stories highlight the cultural tapestry of Las Vegas. “The fact that a museum can capture these stories and ensure they live on tells the tapestry of this city,” Berger said.

In a fortuitous twist, the museum will light Debbie Reynolds’ sign on the night of the Tropicana’s implosion. Reynolds, who was once married to Tropicana headliner Eddie Fisher, has a special connection to the museum through her son, Todd Fisher, a supporter of the museum. “It’s kind of a kismet moment in Las Vegas,” said Marie Mortera, reporting on the story from the Neon Museum.