By Bailey Coyle, FOX23.com News Staff
TULSA, Okla. — When people picture Route 66, they often imagine a warm, colorful glow lighting up the night.
But what actually makes a sign “neon”?
Inside Encinos Signs, Vice President of Operations Christian Ortiz says there’s a clear difference between traditional neon and modern alternatives that mimic the look.
The Science Behind the Glow
Traditional neon signs are made from glass tubes that are carefully bent by hand into specific shapes. Those tubes are filled with gases — typically neon or argon — and then electrified. The result is a luminous glow in varying colors depending on the gas and sometimes special powders applied inside the glass.
“Traditional neon is the glass tubes,” Ortiz explained. “It’s glass that’s been bent to a specific shape, filled with gas, and electrified to give off that luminous glow.”
Neon itself is a gas. But over time, the word “neon” has become shorthand for the glowing glass signage that became popular in the early 1900s and exploded in popularity during Route 66’s heyday in the 1940s and 1950s.
Neon vs. LED: What’s the Difference?
Today, many signs use LED technology instead.
LED signage is brighter, more energy efficient, longer lasting and easier to repair. Digital message boards and modern illuminated signs rely heavily on LEDs because they can display changing images and messages at the push of a button.
Ortiz says LEDs are often the more practical option.
“They’re going to last longer, consume less power, and they’re more efficient,” he said.
But he believes something is different about neon.
“Neon is a glow. It’s not the same thing as LED. There’s a warmth to it. There’s a vibe to it,” Ortiz said. “When you design neon signage, the neon is the star of the show. With LEDs, they’re lighting from the back.”
Unlike LED strips that sit flat against a sign’s surface, neon glass tubes are mounted slightly off the background, creating depth and dimension. There’s even a faint hum associated with traditional neon that some say adds to the experience.
“You don’t hear songs about LED lights,” Ortiz said. “But people write songs about neon.”
From Utility to Art Form
Before LED technology existed, neon was simply a light source — a necessary component of signage. If a business needed illuminated letters, glass tubes had to be custom made to fit each design.
Today, most of the sign industry has become automated. CNC routers cut materials precisely. Letter-bending machines shape metal automatically. Even 3D printing is entering the industry.
But neon glass still has to be bent by hand.
“It’s not just anyone that can bend glass,” Ortiz said. “It’s an art form.”
He doesn’t call neon a dying art, but he does say it’s becoming more specialized.
“It’s not what it once was,” he said. “But I don’t think it’s ever going to go away.”
Why Neon Matters on Route 66
According to Rhys Martin, President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, neon is deeply tied to the identity of Route 66.
“When people close their eyes and think of Route 66, they see neon,” Martin said. “Authentic, original, glass tube neon.”
As the highway evolved into a corridor of nostalgia, neon became one of the defining visual elements travelers seek out.
“People come from around the world to photograph and experience neon along Route 66,” Martin said.
That glow often encourages visitors to linger — waiting until dusk for signs to turn on, grabbing dinner nearby, or even staying overnight.
Route 66 Neon Sign Grant Program
Since 2019, the Tulsa Route 66 Commission has awarded grants to help businesses install neon signage along Route 66. The grants cover up to 50% of a project’s cost, capped at $10,000.
However, city leaders recently discovered that several subsidized signs — including the Capitol of Route 66 sign — were not traditional neon glass tubing. Instead, they used molded, embossed materials lit from behind to mimic the look of neon.
The issue wasn’t fraud or deception. Officials say the applications were submitted and approved in good faith. The problem was that evolving technology had blurred the definition of “neon,” and the grant requirements were not specific enough.
Under the clarified rules, qualifying signs must include glass tubing illuminated from within — either by traditional neon gas or LED filament housed inside the glass tube — preserving the dimensional, raised look historically associated with Route 66 signage.
Martin says the grant program plays a key role in keeping that aesthetic alive. Without financial assistance, many small businesses might choose cheaper LED alternatives instead of investing in traditional glass tubing.
“This is about preserving what makes Route 66 unique,” Martin said. “If we’re going to celebrate 100 years, we want to make sure what people are seeing reflects that history.”
Looking Ahead to the Centennial
Tulsa is preparing for Route 66’s Centennial celebration in 2026, including major events like the Capital Cruise, which aims to break a Guinness World Record for classic cars traveling through an intersection in one day.
City leaders say neon plays a role in preserving the past while looking toward the future.
“Neon means paying tribute to the past of this road while looking into the future,” Martin said.
While LED technology continues to evolve and expand, Ortiz believes neon’s unique glow will always have a place.
“There’s just something about it,” he said. “It draws people in.”
And nearly 100 years after Route 66 first opened, that glow still shines bright.
