The buzzing, blinking tubes of neon lights twist to form countless recognizable icons. But these eight places take the gas-filled glass, commonly snaked into letters and blinking images, way beyond simple signage. 

Although they are used all over the world, neon signs are especially representative of the byways of the Western United States. Neon-lit motels, diners, movie theaters, and casinos often appear in cinema and photographs as icons of Americana. In part because of this, as neon has fallen out of favor for commercial uses, it has been adopted by artists interested in the avant-garde. Just as neon signs can transform a street at night, and they change any darkened gallery space or warehouse—where many of these dazzling sites can be found.