Neon Museum sends T.I. pirate skull to sign shop for repairs

The Neon Museum removed the Treasure Island pirate skull from its outdoor collection on Thursday.

The museum lifted the sculpture by crane and moved it to YESCO, the Young Electric Sign Company. The 32-foot-tall piece will undergo structural work before returning to the museum grounds.

The skull is the only survivor of two identical sculptures that once flanked the Treasure Island pylon sign. The hotel opened with both figures in 1993. The property dropped its pirate theme in 2003. Workers removed the signs during a ceremony on July 10 of that year. The museum received the skull shortly after the removal.

The sculpture measures 29 feet wide and is made of polychromatic molded fiberglass. It consists of three distinct parts: the skull, an earring, and a bandana knot. YESCO will patch the fiberglass and stabilize the structure. Technicians will also repaint the surface to match the original colors that faded over the years.

Museum officials stated that the restoration aligns with their goal to preserve Las Vegas history. They aim to keep the pirate skull as a permanent part of the city's cultural legacy.