Demion Clinco, President of the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation, shares a similar love for the historic neon signs that line Tucson's major arterial streets: Miracle Mile, Oracle Road and Drachman Street.

"Starting in the 1930s, after the introduction of neon signs, hotels and restaurants began installing these signs to lure customers off of the freeway and to compete with each other," said Clinco.

But as more owners take down their signs, Clinco fears Tucson may lose its neon skies forever.

"Today as we look and we conduct surveys of how many of these signs really exist, there are less than 125 that are still extant in the community," said Clinco. "They are certainly worthy of preservation because they provide so much character and so much distinctive charm in our city."

Dirk Arnold, also a historic preservationist, managed to salvage a infamous sign that was being removed from its property a few years ago: Ye Old Lantern. Today the lantern sits in Arnold's yard awaiting renovation.

But with Tucson's current sign code in place, Ye Old Lantern isn't likely come alight anytime soon, Arnold said.

"Right now the way the code works, the signs tend to be out of compliance," said Arnold. "They are either too big or they are located in places where today you couldn't put a sign, so we are looking at ways to revise the sign code and either keep them in place or move them somewhere more appropriate."

The Tucson-Pima County Historical Commission has formed a committee that is in the process of drafting an amendment that will revise the sign code and create incentives for current sign owners to renovate their neon.

"I think of historic signs as a kind of folk art," said Arnold. "They are regionally specific because they were for businesses that were in the area. It's important to save what's left of the examples that are still out there. "

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