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- A&W Drive-In Highway Sign, circa 1955 - Roy W. Allen ran a small walk-up root beer stand in California, then partnered with his employee Frank Wright. Together, "A" and "W" opened three subsequent root beer stands, then began selling franchises. By the 1930s, A & W's had taken the form of drive-ins -- among the country's earliest restaurants of that type. This sign beckoned customers from the highway.
- circa 1955
- Collections - Artifact
A&W Drive-In Highway Sign, circa 1955
Roy W. Allen ran a small walk-up root beer stand in California, then partnered with his employee Frank Wright. Together, "A" and "W" opened three subsequent root beer stands, then began selling franchises. By the 1930s, A & W's had taken the form of drive-ins -- among the country's earliest restaurants of that type. This sign beckoned customers from the highway.
- Mobil Pegasus Sign, circa 1940 - Mobil formed from a merger of Socony and Vacuum Oil in 1931 -- both with extensive networks of gas stations. Mobil began sporting the flying red horse logo in 1934, with ads that boasted "A new sign rises to guide America's car owners to the gasoline and service they want." Vacuum Oil had created the logo for its South African brand in 1913.
- circa 1940
- Collections - Artifact
Mobil Pegasus Sign, circa 1940
Mobil formed from a merger of Socony and Vacuum Oil in 1931 -- both with extensive networks of gas stations. Mobil began sporting the flying red horse logo in 1934, with ads that boasted "A new sign rises to guide America's car owners to the gasoline and service they want." Vacuum Oil had created the logo for its South African brand in 1913.
- Chevrolet Super Service Sign, 1930-1940 - By the 1930s, many automobile dealerships also operated service garages offering routine maintenance and repairs. This sign advertised a Chevrolet dealer's "super service" to motorists.
- 1930-1940
- Collections - Artifact
Chevrolet Super Service Sign, 1930-1940
By the 1930s, many automobile dealerships also operated service garages offering routine maintenance and repairs. This sign advertised a Chevrolet dealer's "super service" to motorists.
- McDonald's Restaurant Sign, 1960 - In 1948, the McDonald brothers transformed their Southern California drive-in restaurant with their radical new "Speedee Service System"--assembly-line production of a limited menu at drastically reduced prices. Richard McDonald created this sign design in 1952. In 1955, milkshake machine salesman Ray Kroc franchised the McDonald's concept--prompting numerous imitators and ultimately turning America into a "fast food nation."
- 1960
- Collections - Artifact
McDonald's Restaurant Sign, 1960
In 1948, the McDonald brothers transformed their Southern California drive-in restaurant with their radical new "Speedee Service System"--assembly-line production of a limited menu at drastically reduced prices. Richard McDonald created this sign design in 1952. In 1955, milkshake machine salesman Ray Kroc franchised the McDonald's concept--prompting numerous imitators and ultimately turning America into a "fast food nation."
- Trade Sign, Stephen Badlam's Looking Glass and Cabinet Workshop, circa 1800 -
- circa 1800
- Collections - Artifact
Trade Sign, Stephen Badlam's Looking Glass and Cabinet Workshop, circa 1800
- Holiday Inn "Great" Sign, circa 1960 - When the first Holiday Inns opened in 1952, guests at roadside hotels were mostly traveling families who couldn't always plan their stops ahead of time. This sign -- taller and flashier than some but not radically different from other blinking neon highway signs -- was designed to be spotted from the new interstates. As Holiday Inns multiplied, the sign became a message: "Turn here for a predictable, quality experience."
- circa 1960
- Collections - Artifact
Holiday Inn "Great" Sign, circa 1960
When the first Holiday Inns opened in 1952, guests at roadside hotels were mostly traveling families who couldn't always plan their stops ahead of time. This sign -- taller and flashier than some but not radically different from other blinking neon highway signs -- was designed to be spotted from the new interstates. As Holiday Inns multiplied, the sign became a message: "Turn here for a predictable, quality experience."
- Texaco Service Station Sign, circa 1940 - In 1937, Texaco hired visionary industrial designer Walter Dorwin Teague to redesign and modernize its stations. By 1940, Texaco had 500 stations with clean white porcelain, green lines, and bold red stars. Teague's design was a beacon to drivers, promising friendly attendants, quality gasoline, and clean restrooms. This "banjo" sign was also designed by Teague.
- circa 1940
- Collections - Artifact
Texaco Service Station Sign, circa 1940
In 1937, Texaco hired visionary industrial designer Walter Dorwin Teague to redesign and modernize its stations. By 1940, Texaco had 500 stations with clean white porcelain, green lines, and bold red stars. Teague's design was a beacon to drivers, promising friendly attendants, quality gasoline, and clean restrooms. This "banjo" sign was also designed by Teague.
- Douglas Auto Theatre Sign, circa 1955 - The first "auto movie theatre" opened in Camden, New Jersey, in 1933, but it took time to perfect the new technology. In the 1950s, a new market of families and teenagers embraced the informality and privacy of in-car movie-watching. This sign stood at the entrance to a drive-in theatre that held 800 cars when it operated between 1955 and 1985.
- circa 1955
- Collections - Artifact
Douglas Auto Theatre Sign, circa 1955
The first "auto movie theatre" opened in Camden, New Jersey, in 1933, but it took time to perfect the new technology. In the 1950s, a new market of families and teenagers embraced the informality and privacy of in-car movie-watching. This sign stood at the entrance to a drive-in theatre that held 800 cars when it operated between 1955 and 1985.
- Texaco Sign, 1964 - In 1937, Texaco hired visionary industrial designer Walter Dorwin Teague to redesign and modernize its stations. By 1940, Texaco had 500 stations with clean white porcelain, green lines, and bold red stars. Teague's design was a beacon to drivers, promising friendly attendance, quality gasoline, and clean restrooms. This sign was also designed by Teague.
- February 02, 1964
- Collections - Artifact
Texaco Sign, 1964
In 1937, Texaco hired visionary industrial designer Walter Dorwin Teague to redesign and modernize its stations. By 1940, Texaco had 500 stations with clean white porcelain, green lines, and bold red stars. Teague's design was a beacon to drivers, promising friendly attendance, quality gasoline, and clean restrooms. This sign was also designed by Teague.
- Ritzy Tavern Sign, circa 1948 - An increasing variety of eatery choices enticed motorists to leave the highway and stop in for a bite to eat. These included roadside diners, drive-ins, lunchrooms, and coffee shops. Sometimes motorists would encounter an old pre-railroad tavern that was revived and reopened for motorists' business after years of neglect. Ritzy Tavern seems to have been one of these.
- circa 1948
- Collections - Artifact
Ritzy Tavern Sign, circa 1948
An increasing variety of eatery choices enticed motorists to leave the highway and stop in for a bite to eat. These included roadside diners, drive-ins, lunchrooms, and coffee shops. Sometimes motorists would encounter an old pre-railroad tavern that was revived and reopened for motorists' business after years of neglect. Ritzy Tavern seems to have been one of these.