City of Las Vegas debuts new plaque at popular Blue Angel statue downtown

Las Vegas (KSNV) — The famous Blue Angel statue, which once stood outside the Blue Angel Motel in downtown Las Vegas for decades, will now have a plaque explaining its elaborate history on display along with the statue.

On Thursday, January 18, the plaque was revealed on social media, with Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman recognizing the City of Las Vegas for the installation.

The statue once stood outside the Blue Angel Motel, which was located at 2110 Fremont Street, from 1957 until 2017.

According to the plaque, the motel closed in 2011, and after it was demolished in 2015, the 16-foot angel stood at the location for two more years before it was moved down the road in 2020.

It was sent over to Hartlauer Signs for restoration in December 2019, after the piece was donated to the City of Las Vegas.

The statue underwent many modifications throughout its 60-year course, but the design seen now paints her original 1957 appearance.

The sculpture was initially designed by Betty Willis, who later developed the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, located at the other end of the Las Vegas Strip.

Willis died in 2015.

The site of the Blue Angel Motel is now the home of a modern-day Taco Bell and O'Reilly auto parts store.

Although the motel might be gone after decades of operation, the angel's iconic symbolism will continue to guard the streets of downtown Las Vegas for years to come.

"The Blue Angel is an iconic symbol of downtown Las Vegas and her preservation ensures that her presence can once again be felt by locals and visitors alike," the plaque states.