In America, neon signs found their glory days from the '20s through the '60s, at a time when cities were becoming increasingly metropolitan, transportation was more readily available, and nightlife was hitting its stride. Any old sign would have been missed by the after hours crowd, so the tantalizing glow of neon served as a beacon to lure the night owls.
As for Tacoma, the ghosts of the city's past mix so fascinatingly with its new landscape – the classic architecture, the fading signs painted onto brick walls and, yes, the neon. We have so many favorite signs around town, some of which are new, and some of which have weathered decades of Tacoma rain. Here are just a few that we love.