<P> The sign is a 25 - foot - tall (7.6 m) classic roadside pole design, mounted offset on two flat poles which are joined by a cross piece at the top . The poles extend above the top of the sign . The sign is a horizontally stretched diamond shape, with the top and bottom angles pointed while the side angles are rounded . It is double - backed, internally lit, with a border of flashing and chasing yellow incandescent bulbs outside around the perimeter . In a nod to Nevada's nickname as "the Silver State," across the top of the sign are white neon circles, designed to represent silver dollars . The circles each contain a red painted letter, outlined in neon, which together form the word "Welcome ." Crowning the sign, located between the two poles and just under the crosspiece is an eight - pointed, red - painted metal star outlined with yellow neon . </P> <P> The intersecting vertical and horizontal lines of the star extend over and wrap around the frame that is created by the two poles and the cross piece, which give the star a dynamic, explosive appearance . The cabinet is faced with translucent white plastic and covered with blue and red painted text . The south side of the sign reads "Welcome" inside the silver dollars, with "to Fabulous" in blue, in a 1950s - style cursive, underneath . The words "Las Vegas" are on the next line in red, all capitalized, and large, almost filling the width of the sign . Under "Las Vegas" is the word "Nevada" in blue, all capitalized, in a much smaller font . On the back or north side, which is less frequently photographed and thus is lesser known, the sign reads "Drive" on the top line and "Carefully" on the second in red capital letters, with "Come Back" in blue on the third line, in script, and "Soon" all capitalized in blue on the fourth line . The design is characteristic of the Googie architecture movement . </P> <P> Betty Willis intended to design a sign that was unique in its shape, style and content . Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO) currently owns the sign, which leases it to Clark County, while the design itself is in the public domain . The design of the sign was never copyrighted since Willis considered this her gift to the city and wanted it to be in the public domain . This has resulted in the image being ubiquitous on Las Vegas souvenirs . </P> <P> In 2007, Clark County installed decorative artificial turf inlaid with four playing cards underneath the sign . </P>

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