From the dawn of civilization, neon existed. In the late 1890s, Sir Wiliam Ramsey discovered and isolated the power and beauty of neon and three other noble gasses. In 1910 French physicist George Claude patented an electrode that allowed this mesmerizing gas to illuminate tubes of all sizes. By the 1920s, neon had exploded around the globe and was brightening storefronts across the U.S. A century later, David Benko shares stories of signs that have connected history, people, and communities. 

David Benko is the executive director and owner of the National Neon Sign Museum in The Dalles, Oregon, which opened in 2016 in a restored 1910 Elks Lodge. Benko got his start in neon with an apprenticeship for Ace Neon Signs in Everett, WA. In 1990 he founded Rocket City Neon, the company responsible for the restoration and design of many historic Northwest signs, including those at McMenamins Crystal Ballroom and Tavern & Pool, and Laurelhurst Theater, to name a few. The latest acquisition of the National Neon Sign Museum is the historic Jantzen Beach Carousel, soon to be restored.

Stay the night, mention History Pub at check-in for 15% off your room.

These events are open to everyone interested in Pacific Northwest history, and beyond! Often co-sponsored by local or state historical and civic organizations, we bring you experts, scholars, first-person experiencers, historians and documentaries expounding on topics from indigenous history to the birth of Portland, early explorers to hop growing, and on and on! It's like being back in the classroom - except this time you get to settle into comfortable seats and enjoy a drink or two with dinner while you listen and learn.

This event is eligible for a History Pub Stamp