Tulsa Neon Sign Survey

In April 2008, the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture was awarded a Preservation Services Fund grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Ruth and Allen Mayo Fund for Historic Preservation in Oklahoma to conduct a survey of Tulsa's existing neon signs.  The seed grant was used to visually survey Tulsa's major thoroughfares to identify and record all neon signs, whether operable or non-operable, along them.  The boundaries of the survey were established: North: 56th Street North; South: 61st Street; East: Highway 169; and West: Highway 75. 

A distinction made in the identification of neon signs was in the definition of a neon sign.  If the only neon portion of a sign was an outline of the sign with no other characters or lettering created in neon, the sign was not  included in the survey.  Additionally, we excluded neon tubing found only along rooflines or simply outlining a window of a buisness and all generic "Open" signs, bail bonds, and brand-name liquor advertisements found at almost every liquor store window in Tulsa, and arguably, in the United States. 

Also as part of the survey, we identified many vintage neon signs that no longer have neon tubing on them.  To view the list, click here.

To view the types of sign in the survey, click here.  

To view the neon images or motifs in the survey, click here.

To view the types of businesses with neon signs, click here.