Santa Monica's iconic Pier sign is scheduled to come down Tuesday, Oct. 20, for a full restoration while the 87-year-old bridge beneath it is replaced.
The sign is not being scrapped or redesigned.
Crews will disconnect the power, remove and crate the neon tubing, then lift the sign off by crane, according to the City Manager's Update republished by Santa Monica Next. Prep work begins Monday, Oct. 19, following coordination with Caltrans, though the city cautioned the schedule could shift.
The sign will then travel to Las Vegas, where YESCO, the company known for restoring the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign, will handle the work. City officials expect the Pier sign back in mid-to-late 2027. It will sit about 10 feet north of its current spot, elevated to a 17-foot vertical clearance for better visibility and vehicle access, according to the Santa Monica Lookout.
The removal is one step in the $35.6 million Pier Bridge Replacement Project. The existing bridge dates to 1939 and no longer meets modern seismic standards. Its replacement will stretch 447 feet with a 15-foot sidewalk on the south side and a 75-year service life. The full project is scheduled for completion in late 2027, ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
The Pier sign was unveiled June 17, 1941. The Santa Monica Businessmen's Association paid the Pan-Pacific Neon Sign Company $2,000 to build the arched Streamline Moderne neon arch with blue, white and gold letters. The city has both landmarked and trademarked the sign, which still reads "Santa Monica Yacht Harbor – Sport Fishing – Boating – Cafes."
"The only replaced elements have been the neon tubing and wiring … Everything else is original," sign historian Alex Mebane wrote, as quoted by the Lookout.
Visitors who want a photo with the sign don't have to wait until 2027. A half-scale replica, lit at night, has stood on the Pier deck next to Pier Burger since fall 2025. The Pier and all its restaurants and shops remain open during construction.
