By Jorge Casuso

September 24, 2026 -- For the first time in 85 years, Santa Monica's most iconic sign won't be at the head of the Pier to greet visitors. It'll be in Las Vegas, wher it will be restored and safely kept while the new Pier Bridge is constructed.

Unveiled to the public on June 17, 1941, the neon sign -- which has appeared in numerous films and served as a backdrop for countless snapshots -- is such an integral part of Santa Monica it has been both landmarked and trademarked by the City.

In its absence, a temporary, half-scale replica that lights up has been installed down the bridge just before Pier Burger until the original is reinstalled when the new Pier Bridge is completed ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.

The refurbishing effort will be led by YESCO, a leader in the sign industry since 1920 that is "nationally recognized for its award-winning neon displays and extensive experience restoring and illuminating historic signs," including the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, a ceremonial gateway for visitors, City officials said.

The historic sign will be dismantled in sections using a crane and temporary support structures. "First, the electrical power will be disconnected, and the neon tubes will be removed and safely crated," officials said.

"The Crown Sign will then be unbolted and lifted by crane, while the historic sign cage is temporarily supported. Next, crews will remove the arched support truss and columns, lowering the components into protective steel shipping frames.

"The sign, truss, and Crown Sign will then be secured, braced, and protected with wrapping before being loaded onto separate flatbed trailers for transport to Las Vegas," officials said.

YESCO will then refurbish the sign by restoring neon tubing, removing rust, repainting and making structural repairs. The sign will then be stored at a safe and secure YESCO facility while the Pier Bridge construction is underway.

The rehabilitated Pier sign will be installed about 10 feet north of its current location and elevated to have a vertical clearance of 17 feet "to improve visibility and provide increased clearance for vehicles," City officials said.

The Pier sign was erected after the old access to the Pier was removed and a ramp was designed to bring traffic from the end of Colorado Avenue onto the Pier, according to an account of the sign's history posted on Pacific Park's website.

After the ramp was installed, the Santa Monica Businessmen’s Association paid the Pan-Pacific Neon Sign company $2,000 to design and build the arched Streamline-Moderne-style sign with blue, white and gold letters welcoming visitors to the tourist destination.

Although the neon has been turned off -- notably during World War II -- and the Pier's uses have changed, the same words have remained on the curved 35-foot-wide metal arch: Santa Monica/Yacht Harbor/Sport Fishing/Boating/Cafes.

"The occasional truck hits it and according to the historical documents, it was moved in the 1950s to be closer to Ocean Avenue," according to the account posted on the Pacific Park website written by Alex Mebane, the author of a book on Santa Monica's signs.

"Although it’s been repainted, the only replaced elements have been the neon tubing and wiring," Mebane wrote. "Everything else is original. The official report reads 'one of the finest existing samples of signage from the neon era, dating from approximately 1930–1960.'”