Author: Eric Grundhauser / Source: Atlas Obscura
Sometimes when you ask the universe (or in this case, the internet) for a sign, you get over 500. At least, that’s what happened when we asked Atlas Obscura readers to tell us about their favorite landmark signs.
In honor of Landmarks Week, on Monday we put out a call for love letters to iconic local signs and advertisements, and the response was overwhelming.
Several signs received multiple shout outs, with well-known landmarks such as the White Stag sign in Portland, Oregon, and the Grain Belt Beer sign in Minneapolis, Minnesota, getting a lot of love in particular. There were also memorable entries such as the Crystal Preserves sign in New Orleans, which once pumped fake steam out of its neon cauldron, and Sacramento, California’s “Jugglin’ Joe” sign, which lights up to animate an ice cream scoop getting thrown over the top of a soda jerk.Our readers submitted hundreds of beloved signs, and unfortunately we could not feature them all, but a selection of our favorites follows.
The Tupelo Arrow
“The neon arrow sign stands at the busiest intersection in Tupelo, Mississippi (known as Crosstown) and points toward the downtown business district. It was erected sometime before 1954. It commemorates February 7, 1934, the day Tupelo became the first city to receive electrical service from one of the signature New Deal programs: the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). To celebrate this achievement, FDR and his wife Eleanor visited Tupelo on November 18, 1934, and addressed one of the single largest event crowds in Mississippi history. The sign has long stood as an insignia of Tupelo and its place as ‘First TVA City.’ — John Haynes, Alexandria, Virginia
First National Bank Sign
St. Paul, Minnesota
“In my hometown, St. Paul, Minnesota, [there is] the First National Bank ‘1st’ red blinking neon, and the red neon Schmidt Brewery sign, now atop a artists condo collective.” — Jacqui Shoholm, Alexandria, Virginia
Grain Belt Beer Sign
“There’s a Grain Belt beer neon sign in downtown Minneapolis. It was put up in 1941, went dark around the late 70s, and was re-lit in 1989, then was sporadically lit for a number of years while the fate of the Grain Belt Brewery was in doubt. It was re-lit again at the end of 2017.” — Kathy Brown, Minneapolis, Minnesota
“My company made a smaller version of the sign as part of a fundraiser to relight the original.” — Dave Benson, Aurora, Ohio
Mr. Boh Sign
“The one-eyed man with a mustache is the representation for National Bohemian Beer, commonly referred to as ‘Natty Boh.’” — Tina Simmons, Laurel, Maryland
Maxwell House Coffee Sign
“I adore the Maxwell House Coffee Company sign in Jacksonville, Florida. It is from 1955 and is around 95 feet tall. The coffee cup has a dripping drop coming from it. When it is lit, it gives the city a nice glowing reflection in the downtown area. It is quite a stunning example of illuminated and automated signage. It is an essential visual landmark in Jacksonville.” — Sarah Nan, Jacksonville, Florida
Cream City Sign
“It’s a wonderful neon sign that was restored within the past 10-15 years to its former glory. It sits on top of Cream City ice cream parlor in the historic downtown. I don’t know much of its history, only that it’s been around since the ’50s at least and is a popular attraction.” — Malory Rose, Atlanta, Georgia
Alico Sign
“The Alico sign on top of Waco’s only skyscraper.” — Brandon Gilliam, Waco, Texas
Anheuser-Busch Sign
“The Anheuser-Busch sign at the Newark Airport. We used to live in New Jersey and flew in and out of the Newark Airport. This sign seemed to mark the spot when arriving or departing.” — Larayne J. Dallas, Austin, Texas
“At my earliest age, over 60 years ago, I’d see that sign as we drove to my grandparents home in Jersey City. I’d know I was near their home when I’d see it.” — Jeff Guide, Hot Springs Arkansas
Coca-Cola Sign
“The Coca-Cola sign had been atop a building in the heart of downtown Baton Rouge and remained unlit for many years. A massive restoration was completed only to be undone by the owner of the building who claimed the arts council that restored it had no rights to it. He covered it with a tarp for over a year while it was argued over. It finally was resolved after 15 months of being covered for a grand reveal. It now graces the evening crowds of downtown Baton Rouge along with multiple building renovations that have revived a long forgotten area.” — Leisa Humble, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Crystal Preserves Sign
“The Crystal Preserves sign on the old Baumer Foods factory in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been a local landmark since it was built in 1942. The left side of the sign features a green background with the words ‘Crystal Preserves’ in white cursive overlaid with green and red neon lights. The right side of the sign has a cutout of a man in an apron and chef’s hat stirring a very large pot. The reason the sign was so popular is that the factory installed their exhaust vent right behind the sign to make it look like steam was rising from a gigantic pot full of hot food. Furthermore, the factory and sign were directly adjacent to the interstate so thousands of people drove past it every day on their commute to and from work. The factory and the sign were both functional until Hurricane Katrina in 2005, during which the factory and sign both suffered severe damage. The factory closed (they reopened at another location in the suburbs where they continue to make Crystal Hot Sauce), but the building was purchased and renovated into apartments. Fortunately the new owners understood how beloved the sign was so they replaced the damaged sign with a new, more hurricane-proof, version that looks almost identical to the original (although they didn’t replace the old neon ‘Baumer Foods’ sign that used to be attached to the top of it). The new owners supposedly even left a hole behind the pot that can be filled with dry ice to make the pot steam again on special occasions.” — Rebecca Williams, New Orleans, Louisiana
Western Auto Sign
“The building itself, originally a Coca-Cola office structure built in 1915, is on the National Register of Historic Places and is uniquely shaped, designed around a curved railroad service track. It has been converted to upscale condominiums in recent years. As of summer 2018, the sign is being converted from incandescent and neon to LED lighting for reliability and ease of maintenance.” — Mark Llewellyn, Bay Area, California
“[The sign] sits on top of an iconic building, shaped like ‘half a cake’ as my mother always said. She worked there for over 30 years so it was always a landmark for us. The…
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