This two-and-a-half-story neon sign is an homage to the old Cadillac Hotel sign, which photographic evidence suggests lit up our community in the 1950s. This new recreation proudly bears the name “Tenderloin” on one side and “Cadillac” on the other, a fusion of history and artistry, illuminating the Tenderloin community and adding to the vibrancy of our neighborhood.

The sign is the conceptual project of and a proud partnership between Katie Conry of the Tenderloin Museum and Randall Ann Homan of San Francisco Neon, an organization that educates and advocates for the artistic legacy of historic neon signs. TLM & SF Neon have co-presented scores of programs and walking tours that highlight the Tenderloin neighborhood as a mecca of neon signage in the city. This new Tenderloin/Cadillac sign proclaims our neighborhood’s rich neon lineage by reinstituting a lost landmark while acknowledging theNow, after three years of multifaceted planning, which even included successfully advocating for new legislation to create a neon sign district in the Tenderloin, the Tenderloin/Cadillac sign is ready to shine its light on the neighborhood! The project was made possible by support from the San Francisco Community Challenge Grant Program (CCG), and Magic Cabinet, as well as by the advocacy of Supervisor Dean Preston, Tenderloin People’s Congress, and the CCSRO Collaborative Land Use Committee.

Join us as we come together and celebrate the completion of this new, historically-informed sign that we hope will foster a sense of pride, identity, and belonging for the people of the Tenderloin. We’ll gather on November 8th, 2023  to witness the illumination of a new chapter in Tenderloin history–the 6 pm sign lighting ceremony will feature special guest speakers and live music, plus look for a video projection outside the museum featuring “Lost Neon Landscapes” compiled by SF Neon from the Prelinger