For too many months, locals have been stuck home attending Zoom happy hours and binging Netflix, wishing for the days of socializing with friends in person and immersing yourself in all of the exciting arts and culture offerings of the Philly area. Well thankfully this summer, the city is slowly reopening and life is getting back to normal, which means you can bust out of your 1213 Walnut apartment and take in both the sunshine and your social calendar.

Enjoy both on a walk to the new Neon Museum. Located less than 3 miles from your 1213 Walnut apartment, the museum opened its doors this winter, after decades in the making. The brainchild of local collector Len Davidson, the Neom Museum showcases Philadelphia history through unique signage telling the stories of some of the city’s most famous places from the last 75 years.

The museum features more than 100 neon signs, mostly dating from the 1950s to 1980s. Each sign, which is accompanied by a brief history, tells the tale of Philadelphia as a city of neighborhoods: From malt shops to diners, car mechanics to taverns and everything in between, the businesses represented by the signs all played a unique role in Philadelphia’s cultural history. The museum also offers special exhibits that supplement the history lesson, such as the current show that details the renaissance of South Street in the 1960s and ’70s, complete with posters, photos, news clippings, memorabilia and more. And make sure to check out the events calendar for special events and activities throughout the summer.

Tickets to the museum are $10 for adults, with admission by appointments Fridays through Sundays.

Before your summer social calendar fills up too much, make sure to pencil in some time for a visit to the Neon Museum to reacquaint yourself with Philly’s exciting arts community.

Neon Museum

1800 N. American St.

Philadelphia, PA 19102

267-534-3883