SF’s New 25-Foot Tall Neon Sign Lighting Ceremony

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Join TLM and SF Neon as we ignite a new, historically-informed neon sign above the entrance to the Tenderloin Museum in San Francisco! Three years in the making, this 25-ft double-sided neon will brighten our corner and serve as both a literal and figurative beacon for the Tenderloin neighborhood.

We hope this will foster a sense of pride, identity, and belonging for the people of the Tenderloin. Let’s gather on November 8th to witness the illumination of a new chapter in Tenderloin history–the 6pm sign lighting ceremony will feature special guest speakers and live music, plus look for a video projection outside the museum featuring “Lost Neon Landscapes” compiled by SF Neon from the Prelinger Archive. Don’t miss this significant occasion!

The sign is 25 ft long with a steel frame, aluminum sheeting, 8 transformers, and 337 ft of neon glass tubing. It has red and blue coloring when lit.

The Tenderloin/Cadillac sign was inspired by a family photo of the original Cadillac Hotel sign, which surfaced in 2020 on the San Francisco Remembered Facebook Group. SF Neon replicated the design in the photo with custom letterforms and decorative border. Not just a recreation but a visionary work of art, the Tenderloin/Cadillac neon sign serves as a beacon of hope for the Tenderloin, welcoming visitors, invigorating foot traffic, and adding essential street lighting for the block.

Now, after three years of multifaceted planning, which even included successfully advocating for new legislation to create a neon sign district in the Tenderloin, the Tenderloin/Cadillac sign is ready to shine its light on the neighborhood! The project was made possible by support from the San Francisco Community Challenge Grant Program (CCG), Magic Cabinet, as well as by the advocacy of Supervisor Dean Preston, Tenderloin People’s Congress, and the CCSRO Collaborative Land Use Committee. This new Tenderloin/Cadillac sign proclaims our neighborhood’s rich neon lineage by reinstituting a lost landmark while acknowledging the solidarity of the Tenderloin community today.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.