Ferrell's Hamburgers neon sign - Hopkinsville, KY located at the corner of Main St. and 10th St. in downtown Hopkinsville.
Gold Gallery sign - Hopkinsville, KY The neon sign has definately been repainted over the years. the vertical part that today says Gallery looks like it used to say Phoenix. This sign is located at the inportant intersection of Main St. and 9th St. where US41 and US68 meet
Gem Theater sign - Calhoun, GA Built in 1927 and expanded in 1939. located in downtown Calhoun along US41/Old Dixie Highway. For more info: www.calhoungem.org/
Kleen Rite Cleaners neon sign - Hopkinsville, KY Located along S. Virginia St. (US41) in Hopkinsville, this sign has most of what you could want in a vintage sign: Neon tubes clinging by a thread, an old clock, chaser lights and flags.
Kleen Rite Cleaners neon sign - Hopkinsville, KY Located along S. Virginia St. (US41) in Hopkinsville, this sign has most of what you could want in a vintage sign: Neon tubes clinging by a thread, an old clock, chaser lights and flags. Hello to anyone who found this here: www.kohoso.us/kleen-rite-cleaners/
Masonic Lodge neon sign - Ringgold, GA Quitman Lodge 106
Dick's Liquor & Beer neon sign - Hopkinsville, NY Located along highway US41 on the south side of town.
Westgate Liquor neon sign - Hopkinsville, KY Located along KY91
Dalton, GA Masonic Temple neon sign
Old rusty neon sign - Florence, AL Your guess is as good as mine regarding the original purpose of this sign.
KFC signs: Old and New KFC started as Harlan Sanders Cafe in Corbin, Ky. He owned a motel and a restaurant along highway US25. When the interstate was built, fewer people drove past the place, and it almost went out of business until he passed the fried chicken recipe to a franchise. Now, the 11 herbs and spices are eaten everywhere. In the foreground is the original Sanders Cafe sign which sticks out of the entrance. In the background is the really tall 1980's bucket sign that you can see from the interstate. Of course, these days the powers that be market the fast food chain as KFC and not Kentucky Fried Chicken in most places Hello to anyone who found this photo on Kentuckyville.US www.kentuckyville.us/2006/07/25/kfc-signs-old-and-new/ or here: consumerist.com/consumer/trans-fats/how-kfc-went-trans-fa... or here: consumerist.com/consumer/trans-fats/the-colonel-axes-tran... Or here:(in a blog post referencing a news story about PETA asking Cambodia to not open a KFC) critternews.blogspot.com/2007/10/peta-asks-cambodia-not-t... This is my 2nd photo to reach 1000 views. woot! the newest place for it to show up: critternews.blogspot.com/2008/02/peta-concerned-they-dont... I included this photo in one of my own blogs here: brentkmoore.blogspot.com/2008/02/col-sanders-for-senator.... Today's new Location: Hi Retro TV Girl! shelliakers.typepad.com/glued_to_my_tv/2008/03/parts.html and here: themarketingspot.blogspot.com/2007/04/inspire-me-with-mar... Inspire Me With A Marketing Story This is my 4th photo to reach 2000 views! Next, used here: www.olmblog.com/?p=6126 Tales of The Stand Out Brand Then here for a KFC quiz: www.yumsugar.com/3443450 also seen here: frombottomup.com/success-story-3-harland-sanders/ Success Story #3: Harland Sanders and then here: www.secondwindconsultants.com/?p=4106 Which was reposted here: dtod.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/franchise-workouts-a-differ...
Kline's Dairy Bar - Harrisonburg, VA
See Live Bears They now have 5 instead of three bears. which is why th middle part is not lighted. Update: Not too long after this picture was taken, I think they went out of business when the building caught fire. This part of town is now something else.
Wonder Whip sign - Owensboro, KY Along E 4th St. (Old US60)
Simpsons Florist - Decatur, AL Located along US31
Hotel Strasburg neon sign - Strasburg, VA This neon sign for Hotel Strasburg & Dining Room is located along US11 in Strasburg, VA. The Hotel is a block away.
Rusty Old Neon Sign I think I can barely make out the words "Bill Black American Oil Co." This is seen south of Huntsville, AL along US231
"Big Bob" Gibson Bar-B-Q - Decatur, AL This neon sign with a pig is located in Decatur, AL along highway US31.
Governors Drive Cleaners neon sign - Huntsville, AL Laundry - 1 Day service
Morris Jewelry neon sign Along Fountain Square - Bowling Green, KY
Old Sign to nowhere Franklin, KY - U.S. 31W If you look really, really close, I see the word Cafe in the middle, although it probably wasn't the original purpose of the sign.
Adams Motel - Defuniak Springs, FL Located on Nelson Ave (US90/331)
Judy's Castle sign Bowling Green, KY along US31W Update from comments: Now gone.
Windmill Beverages neon sign Located along US72 in Madison, AL
Gracie Rae neon sign - St. Andrews, FL This Bar & Grill is located at St. Andrew's Harbor area of Panama City.
Kreme Delight neon sign - Athens, AL This old fashioned burger and ice cream restaurant seemed to be a popular spot in Athens, AL
Jefferson Island Salt faded ad - Andalusia, AL This vintage faded ad is on the side of the abandoned Andalusia Grocery Co. building at Cotton St. next to the train tracks. You can see it's location here: www.google.com/maps/@31.30549,-86.4820276,3a,30y,207.72h,... Jefferson Island Salt was in business from 1949-56, making this painted ad over 60 years old. They had an extensive series of wall ads and occasionally barns (flic.kr/p/2NMV43). Typically their ads had white letters of Jefferson Island on a red background over a series of waves and the word SALT on a dark blue background. This specific ad appears to have been painted twice. I suppose the original had Island and SALT shifted to the left with a bag of salt on the right. The second painting was without the bag of salt and all words centered. Their salt came from Jefferson Island in Lake Peigneur near New Iberia, Louisiana. Based on the Landscape, much salt is carried into this lake, where the water evaporates, leaving a domes of salt forming islands. Even though Jefferson Island Salt went out of business in 1956, salt was still mined at Jefferson Island for several decades. It was the site of an unusual accident in 1980. An oil rig was drilling for oil over the lake when the drill actually hit the salt mine shaft. A sinkhole was formed and much of the lake water then flowed into the salt mine and forever changed the landscape. There's an interesting documentary here: youtu.be/5Bh7DJKAC1A
Partridge Restaurant - Rome, GA The Partridge Restaurant is located in Rome's central business district along Broad St.
Moonlight Drive-In - Titusville, FL Located on highway US1 in Titusvulle, FL
Bone's Auto Electric neon sign - Bowling Green, KY The old neon sign for Bone's Auto is along Nashville Rd. (US31W) in Bowling Green.
Tropical Treat neon sign - Hanover, PA Crabb's Tropical Treat must be the go-to place for ice cream in Hanover. Recently, I traveled to Hanover to see my nephew get married. After a full day of wedding festivities, I stopped here on the way back to the hotel just to photograph the sign. Little did I know that a few minutes later, the bride and groom, still in tux and wedding dress, also stopped here to get some ice cream!
Utz Potato Chips sign - Hanover, PA UTZ Quality Foods, the maker of potato chips, is located in Hanover, PA. This sign is located on their building on Carlisle St. but today is open to visitors as their outlet store. Their newer factory is a few blocks away and apparently has a nice free factory tour
Zesto neon sign - New Albany, IN en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zesto_Drive-In Apparently, Zesto used to be in many places around the country as a chain, but today the locations are territory run independently. I'd seen on in Atlanta, but this is the first time I had stopped at one.
Mobil neon sign Pegasus For years, the winged horse Pegasus has been the logo for Mobil Gas. When my dad was a young boy growing up in Dallas, the neon Pegasus lit up the night sky atop the tallest building downtown. This neon Pegasus is located at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY.
L&S Diner - Harrisonburg, VA Along US11 a couple of blocks north of town.
OK Used Cars neon sign This neon sign is for Gasoline Alley Used Cars located along N. Loudon St. (US11) in Winchester, VA
Reisz Furniture Building - New Albany, IN One of the oldest buildings along Main Street in New Albany is the Reisz building, which dates to the late 1840s. Over the years, the building served as a shirt factory, flour mill, saddle store and a funeral home. The most famous tenant was Reisz Furniture which used the building starting in the 1940s. They closed in 1974, and even though the windows have been boarded up and the paint is peeling, the neon sign has remained. In August 2017, soon after I took this photo, the city decided to give this building new life, and make it New Albany's City Hall. More info here: www.whas11.com/article/news/local/new-albany-planning-to-...
The Big Chicken Johnny Reb's was a restaurant in Marietta, GA on highway US41 that decided to stand out from the other places in town, by erecting a 56 foot tall sheet metal chicken in 1956. The top of the chicken is mechanical as the beak opens and closes while the eye spins in circles. A few years after it was built, the restaurant was sold and became a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise. Over time, the structure started to fall into disrepair and a tornado damaged it in 1993. There was talk that it might be torn down, or moved to a business in Smyrna, GA. However, the townsfolk rallied to save the local landmark. Today, the chicken and the KFC franchise still thrive, and you can even purchase a couple of souvenirs inside.
Southern Kitchen Restaurant - New Market, VA Southern Kitchen is located along US11 in New Market, VA. See all of my vintage neon sign photos in this set.
Starlite Drive-In - Tell City, IN The Starlite Drive-in is long abandoned where this marquee neon sign is all that remains. It's located on the old state road 37 at Starlite road.
Oakwood Cafe neon sign Dalton GA
Silver Creek Lanes neon sign - Sellersburg, IN Along US31 on the south side of Sellersburg.
Mt. View Court - US11 - Virginia Mt. View Court is located along highway US11 in Shenandoah County between Edinburg and Mt. Jackson. Older photos of this sign show the word "Cottages" in the empty space.
World's Oldest Coca-Cola Mural You see the old Coke murals all over the place, and it had to start somewhere. Not surprisingly, it wasn't far from Atlanta. This mural was painted on the side of Young Brother's Pharmacy in Cartersville, GA. In 1894, James Couden, a Coca-Cola syrup salesman, felt the vast exterior of the building would make a great location to advertise his product. 100 years later, preservationists wanted to see what this sign originally looked like and 25 layers of paint were carefully removed. Thus, in 1994 the sign was repainted and preserved to look like it did a century earlier. This sign is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
World's Oldest Coca-Cola Mural You see the old Coke murals all over the place, and it had to start somewhere. Not surprisingly, it wasn't far from Atlanta. This mural was painted on the side of Young Brother's Pharmacy in Cartersville, GA. In 1894, James Couden, a Coca-Cola syrup salesman, felt the vast exterior of the building would make a great location to advertise his product. 100 years later, preservationists wanted to see what this sign originally looked like and 25 layers of paint were carefully removed. Thus, in 1994 the sign was repainted and preserved to look like it did a century earlier. This sign is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. When it was painted, the target audience would likely be train passengers (railroad tracks are right behind me.) but a few decades later, the Dixie Highway passed by also.
Pendelton Jewelry Co. "Bristol's Oldest Jewelers" Since 1886 Along State St. along the VA side.
Tiki Bob's neon sign - Indianapolis
Stein Glass Co. neon sign - New Albany, IN Auto Plate Window Glass
Gold's Coin Shop & Jewelry This neon sign for Gold's Coin Shop & Jewelry is located along Spring St. in downtown Jeffersonville, IN. I wouldn't know how old the sign is, but the Gold $50 Eagle coin is dated 2008.
Oasis Diner - Plainfield, IN This steel diner was built in 1954 and placed along the National Road (US40) in Plainfield, IN. After being endangered in 2010, the local landmark was relocated to the middle of town and reopened in 2014. www.oasisdiner.com/oasis-diner-history/
Max's Jewelry neon sign - Columbus, IN Max's Jewelry - Quality Jeweler Located in Columbus, IN @4th St & Washington St. As I was taking this picture, I heard someone calling my name. A friend from back home was eating at an outdoor restaurant while I was on a photo-walk. What are the odds that two of us would be on business trips and meet up 270 miles from home? His business trip had him spend a week in Columbus, where I was stopping to photograph all the small towns leading into Indianapolis. It's a small world after all.
Goofy Golf neon sign - Ft. Walton, FL I think the old school minigolf courses are the best. This one is now sixty years old, opening in October 1958. Learn more at Roadside America: www.roadsideamerica.com/story/19405
Raines Shoe Hospital Neon sign - Owensboro, KY
Dari Dip - LaFayette, GA
Williams Seafood Restaurant neon sign This is located on highway US80 between Savannah and Tybee Island and is next to the entrance to the Bull River Marina.
Vintage Taco Bell sign - Savannah, GA This is a vintage Taco Bell sign which has been preserved near its original location in Savannah, GA. To better understand this logo, the maroon section in the middle is the middle of a boy. The boy is wearing a large sombrero with the word TACO on it, plus a large dark green and maroon serape, and sitting on the bell. (Most of the boy would be covered up.) Based on discussions I've seen, there are very few of these signs left in existence. Perhaps this is the only one left, at least at it's original store. This Taco bell is near the intersection of US80 and Skidaway Rd. in Savannah. The sign itself is actually a little further back from the road and is located between a Wendy's and an Arby's.
Cerveri Pharmacy - American Sign Museum This is one of many signs on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. The Cerveri Pharmacy was located in Reno, NV. The sign was made in the mid 1950s and remained at the store until they went out of business in 2000. The shape of the sign is of a mortar and pestle which pharmacists use to grind medicine.
Siesta Motor Inn neon sign - Titusville, FL Located along US1
Abandoned drug store neon sign - Worthington, IN This abandoned neon sign, perhaps a Rexall drug store, is located in the central business district of Worthington, IN. Instead of removing the sign, newer owners of the store front covered up the sign for a while with an awning. Now that the awning has fallen off, the sign is visible again.
Drugstore faded wall ad - Guthrie, KY looks like it says: Agents for Lynn's Products McClanahan Pendle Leading Druggists
Cassano's Pizza King neon sign This is one of many signs on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. Here is some video from the museum: www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3PBGPCKEfE Cassano's Pizza King is a chain of fast food Pizza restaurants in Southwest Ohio. This mid-to-late 1950s sign appears in the Cincinnati local sign room.
Dairy Bar neon sign Cherokee, NC along US441
Hayford Bros. Glass Co. neon sign This neon sign is located at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. They say this sign from the 1930s is a double-sided porcelain neon sign.
Gilmore Bowling neon sign - Fairfield, OH Located along Dixie Highway (OH4) in Butler County
Pink Motel - Cherokee, NC Along US441 in the touristy area of Cherokee, NC, this motel appears to be one of the better maintained non-chain motels of the area.
Weidmann's neon sign - Meridian, MS Weidmann's Restaurant - Since 1870 - located downtown Meridian, MS
Saenger Theater sign - Hattiesburg, MS This sign is the original bare bulb sign of the 1929 theater www.hattiesburgsaenger.com/index.cfm/history/
Heileman's Old Style Lager Cafe neon sign This is one of many signs on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. Here is some video from the museum: www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3PBGPCKEfE
Newfound Lodge - Cherokee, NC Along US441
Sam's Ice Cream & Candy - Covington, KY Sam's Ice Cream & Candy neon sign. Located along Pike St. in Covington, KY. Based on the storefront, the business is no longer open but the sign remains.
The Wigwam Motel neon sign Why sleep in a motel named the Wigwam Motel (in Cherokee, NC) when you could sleep in an actual wigwam?
Vintage Burma Shave sign Others Claim Their product good But Ours Does what You Think it should Burma Shave If you've never heard of Burma-Shave signs, it was a form of advertising from the golden age of automobile travel. Each sign of the message was placed every few hundred feet on the highway to make their advertising message. This one is on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. Here is some video from the museum: www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3PBGPCKEfE
Old American Express Sign I'll admit I'd never seen this old design until seeing this old sign. It was at the Towne House Motor Court along Main St. in Sylva, NC, but at ankle level barely off the ground.
Thunderbird Inn neon sign - Savannah, GA It's one thing to stay open as a vintage mom 'n pop motel in a world of hotel chains. The people here take a step much further and fully embrace their retro nature. www.thethunderbirdinn.com/
Bradley's Lock & Key Shop sign 1 - Savannah, GA Bradley's Locksmith has some interesting hand-painted signs outside their shop on State St. east of Wright Square. They are a family business which has operated from the same building for multiple generations. Here are some of the painted messages: We sharpen anything but your wits. We fix anything but a broken heart. Yale Keys low as 50 cents Luggage Repaired Parking only while having work done Established since 1883 Fast service Lock Repaired Scissors Sharpened Safes Openedd Combination Changed
Graeter's Ice Cream Louisville, KY along Bardstown Rd. (US31E). I must have seen a hundred non-chain Ice Cream shops in KY for the couple of days I was there.
Drugs neon sign This Drug store sign is a vintage two-for, with neon and chaser light bulbs. This is one of many signs on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. Here is some video from the museum: www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3PBGPCKEfE
Pine Motel neon sign - Indianapolis This motel, still in business, is located along highway US40 on the east side of Indianapolis. There are so many holes for neon tubes that this sign must have been great back in the day. Looking at Google street view, it used to day "Air Conditioned" in the space between Pine and Motel. That was painted over in green between 2009-13. (For the resident's sake, I hope they still have AC." Instead, "Free WIFI" was added. Yet, this part was painted over with un-matching black paint in 2019.
Owensboro Municipal Utilities neon sign The OMU Elmer Smith Station is located on the east side of Owensboro, KY on highway KY144 (Old US60)
Victone Cleaners - Bardstown, KY Along N. 3rd st. (US31E/62/150)
Used Cars Buy Here Pay Here Neon sign seen along highway US31W just south of Fort Knox
Georgiton's Pizza Restaurant This restaurant sign is a vintage two-for, with neon and chaser light bulbs. This is one of many signs on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. Here is some video from the museum: www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3PBGPCKEfE
The Oakes Motel - Cave City, KY Despite the sign's poor condition, the Motel still seems to be in business. It looks like the M is hanging on for dear life.
Twig and Leaf neon sign A restaurant sign in Louisville, KY along Bardstown Rd. (US 31E)
Peter & Paul Florists neon sign This is one of many signs on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. Here is some video from the museum: www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3PBGPCKEfE According to their display: A Well-designed, painted sheet-metal neon sign from Pittsburgh, PA. Note the hand-painted logo signifying the manufacturer: Gust Mitchell neon signs.
Wheeler Mission neon sign - Indianapolis Wheeler Mission is a Christian homeless shelter in downtown Indianapolis. The open Bible shaped neon sign with Jesus Saves and John 3:16 is located on Delaware St.
Jonesville Motor Lodge Located along Main St. (US58) in Jonesville, VA.
Crown Caterers neon sign Crown Caterers - Deli - Restaurant This is one of many signs on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. Here is some video from the museum: www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3PBGPCKEfE
The Cherokee Trader This is a gift shop along the seemingly endless touristy section along highway US441 in Cherokee, NC. This sign does go back several decades
Peach State Motel sign Although it looks like the sign is about to be swallowed up by vegetation, the motel is still there. in the Peach colored section, it mentions the Air Cond. in the blue part, it lists Tubs & Showers, Rooms for Overnight. This is located on Highway 41 (and the Old Dixie Highway) on the south side of Dalton, GA in an area where it seems like every business is a carpet outlet.
Larry's Original Mexican Restaurant neon sign - Richmond, TX Seen along Jackson St. (US90) in Richmond, TX
Jaeckel Hotel - Statesboro, GA From Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaeckel_Hotel The Jaeckel Hotel is a historic hotel in Statesboro, Georgia that is now being used as Statesboro City Hall. It is located at 50 East Main Street. The hotel was built in 1905 and it is three stories tall built of terra cotta block with brick veneer. The building faces Main Street, where it has a Neoclassical porch. The building was renovated sometime after 1939 when the columns were removed and shortened and the capitals were removed. The interior is details in Neoclassical style. The ceilings are pressed tin. In 1935 a three-story addition was added in the back. An elevator was added in 1939. The hotel served as the center of local social life in the early part of the 20th century. William Jennings Bryan, Cornelius Vanderbilt and Henry Ford stayed at the hotel. An adjacent small lot was acquired in 1910; on the rear of it a "Drummers' Building" was built of brick. It had three display rooms used by traveling salesmen ("drummers") who could stay at the hotel and store and sell their merchandise there. The merchants arrived by roadway or by the railroad. The sidewalk in front of the hotel and the Drummers' Building is the only surviving section of hexagonal block sidewalk, from approximately the turn of the 20th century, that remains in the city. The property, including Drummers' Building and sidewalk, was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 17, 1982, as "Jaeckel Hotel". The building is now the Statesboro City Hall. In 2016, the City Council had its twice-monthly meetings in the City Council Room on the second floor of the building. Also meeting there, on a monthly basis, were two committees, the Statesboro Planning Commission and the city's Alcohol Control Board. At least two committees, the Statesboro Beautification Commission and the Tree Committee, held their regular monthly meetings in the Drummers' Building.
Maryland Odd Fellows Home neon sign This I.O.O.F. sign from Maryland is located at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. The sign isn't actually on display. Instead, it is in the repair shop. Visitors to the museum are allowed back into this area of the repair shop and can get views of signs before they are ready to be on display.
Star Drug Store - Drink Coca-Cola - Galveston, TX They claim to be the oldest drug store in Texas. galvestonstardrug.com/history
Vintage 1963 McDonald's Speedee sign This is one of many signs on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. Here is some video from the museum, including video of how this sign animates: www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3PBGPCKEfE Here is the documentation about this sign from the museum: This example of the iconic "Speedee" single-arch sign originally identified one of several franchise stores in Huntsville, AL owned by the Steve Johnson family. The sign was threatened with destruction when the family planned to expand the store in 2008 and needed to move the sign closer to the street. The city would not grant them a variance to move and re-install the sign: A sign such as this is grandfathered, meaning although it is too large for the current sign code, it is permitted to remain as long as it is not moved. The Johnsons explored options to keep the sign in Huntsville, but found the cost of restoration and transportation was too expensive. Thus, the sign was sold to the American Sign Museum. Over the years, the sign was modernized, such as the 15 cents was removed and the ONE in one billion was changed to 99. In the museum, the other side was left as is, but this side was restored to its original condition. See the sign in it's 2008 condition on Google Street view here: www.google.com/maps/@34.708686,-86.5901397,3a,75y,295.84h...
Kentucky Ice Cream Kentuckians like their Ice Cream. I think I saw more Ice Cream shops on a weekend trip to KY that I've seen in all my Tennessee travels. Of particular note for having a neat sign was this old beauty of a neon sign and ice cream cone which dangles enticingly over Main St. in Horse Cave, KY
King David Dogs with Hene Deli Meats (neon) Seen in downtown Indianapolis
Hotel E.F. Young & Young's Barber & Beauty Shop - Meridian, MS From Wikipedia: As the city grew, African Americans developed a small business district slightly west of the city's core, around the intersection of 25th Avenue with 4th and 5th streets. Black travelers often visited this area when coming to the city, as they were prevented by racial segregation laws from using most other public facilities. Black-owned businesses included a hotel, two restaurants, and a movie theater. Many businesses were started in this area, including one owned by E. F. Young, Jr., a local barber and taxi driver. Young opened a hotel and barber shop in 1931, and he also began selling hair care products made especially for African Americans. Some products he made himself. Eventually Young's operations included a beauty shop, two barber shops, a shoe shine parlor, and a manufacturing shop for the personal products. While operating the barber shops out of the hotel, Young sold customers some hair care products he made in his own kitchen. Demand became so great that he opened a manufacturing company in 1933. The hotel also prospered, as it was one of the only hotels in the city to serve black travelers. The company did so well that by the end of World War II, Young's hair products were sold at locations around the state, including a pharmacy in Clarksdale and a barber shop in Cleveland. Later, he opened a second manufacturing site for his products in Chicago, a major destination in the 20th-century Great Migration for many African Americans from Mississippi. After Young died in 1950, his wife Velma took over the business. In 1969 their son Charles became president. In 1985, Charles Young moved the business offices from the Young Hotel to a new building. By then he had expanded markets for the manufactured products to Canada and the Caribbean islands. In 2007, the Young Hotel was listed as a contributing property to the Meridian Downtown Historic District. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotels_in_Meridian,_Mississippi
Hotel E.F. Young Jr. neon sign entrance- Meridian, MS From Wikipedia: As the city grew, African Americans developed a small business district slightly west of the city's core, around the intersection of 25th Avenue with 4th and 5th streets. Black travelers often visited this area when coming to the city, as they were prevented by racial segregation laws from using most other public facilities. Black-owned businesses included a hotel, two restaurants, and a movie theater. Many businesses were started in this area, including one owned by E. F. Young, Jr., a local barber and taxi driver. Young opened a hotel and barber shop in 1931, and he also began selling hair care products made especially for African Americans. Some products he made himself. Eventually Young's operations included a beauty shop, two barber shops, a shoe shine parlor, and a manufacturing shop for the personal products. While operating the barber shops out of the hotel, Young sold customers some hair care products he made in his own kitchen. Demand became so great that he opened a manufacturing company in 1933. The hotel also prospered, as it was one of the only hotels in the city to serve black travelers. The company did so well that by the end of World War II, Young's hair products were sold at locations around the state, including a pharmacy in Clarksdale and a barber shop in Cleveland. Later, he opened a second manufacturing site for his products in Chicago, a major destination in the 20th-century Great Migration for many African Americans from Mississippi. After Young died in 1950, his wife Velma took over the business. In 1969 their son Charles became president. In 1985, Charles Young moved the business offices from the Young Hotel to a new building. By then he had expanded markets for the manufactured products to Canada and the Caribbean islands. In 2007, the Young Hotel was listed as a contributing property to the Meridian Downtown Historic District. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotels_in_Meridian,_Mississippi
Houchen's Clothes neon sign Charles "Punky" Beckett uses his construction skills to build a replica village next to his house. He has filled these buildings with many vintage items has has acquired over the years. Thankfully, his Punkyville is open to the public. It is located along highway US27 about a mile or two south of Falmouth, KY. Houchen's was a clothing store in the middle of which went out of business many years ago and the sign was relocated here a few years ago.
Vintage General Electric sign This is seen at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. Visitors to the museum are allowed to walk through the repair shop where this one was located. Here is their note: Circa 1920 internally-illuminated, opal glass letter sign. The entire cabinet of this early lightbulb sign is copper, which is a major factor in the sign's excellent condition. Most signs of this era were constructed of tin (sheetmetal), and were therefore subject to rusting. From New Rochelle, NY, purchased June 2018.
Thunderbird Inn window reflection - Savannah, GA The aluminum blinds are left open for vacant rooms. I like the way the light inside the room works with the reflection of the neon sign. Since it is a reflection, I reversed the image so we can read it. The Thunderbird Inn in Savannah is a retro hotel with many features which remind you what a hotel stay was like in the 1960s. The hotel still has it's original neon sign and exterior, and the rooms feature throwback lighting and furnishings. My wife and I recently had a chance to spend the night. If you'd like to see more pictures of the motel, or see what it's like to spend the night here, check out this Youtube video: youtu.be/FaEBemQOI2Q Visit my website at: seemidtn.com/ See all of the pictures in this gallery at: seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=Outside_Tennessee/Ge... Here are my Savannah photos: www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=94502827@N00&text=sava... GA&view_all=1 My photos from all over Georgia: seemidtn.com/flogr/index.php?type=sets&setId=72157622... Slideshow of the haunted Fitzpatrick Hotel in Washington, GA youtu.be/ifmUWKl0zok
Thunderbird Inn Sign and Lobby - Savannah, GA The Thunderbird Inn in Savannah is a retro hotel with many features which remind you what a hotel stay was like in the 1960s. The hotel still has it's original neon sign and exterior, and the rooms feature throwback lighting and furnishings. My wife and I recently had a chance to spend the night. If you'd like to see more pictures of the motel, or see what it's like to spend the night here, check out this Youtube video: youtu.be/FaEBemQOI2Q Visit my website at: seemidtn.com/ See all of the pictures in this gallery at: seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=Outside_Tennessee/Ge... Here are my Savannah photos: www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=94502827@N00&text=sava... GA&view_all=1 My photos from all over Georgia: seemidtn.com/flogr/index.php?type=sets&setId=72157622... Slideshow of the haunted Fitzpatrick Hotel in Washington, GA youtu.be/ifmUWKl0zok
Thunderbird Inn neon sign at dusk - Savannah, GA The Thunderbird Inn in Savannah is a retro hotel with many features which remind you what a hotel stay was like in the 1960s. The hotel still has it's original neon sign and exterior, and the rooms feature throwback lighting and furnishings. My wife and I recently had a chance to spend the night. If you'd like to see more pictures of the motel, or see what it's like to spend the night here, check out this Youtube video: youtu.be/FaEBemQOI2Q Visit my website at: seemidtn.com/ See all of the pictures in this gallery at: seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=Outside_Tennessee/Ge... Here are my Savannah photos: www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=94502827@N00&text=sava... GA&view_all=1 My photos from all over Georgia: seemidtn.com/flogr/index.php?type=sets&setId=72157622... Slideshow of the haunted Fitzpatrick Hotel in Washington, GA youtu.be/ifmUWKl0zok
Wishing Well Motel - Whiteland, IN This motel is still in business and is located along highway US31 south of Indianapolis.
Foster's Freeze neon sign "Old Fashion" "It's Freezer Fresh" This neon sign is located at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. The sign was originally in Orange, CA. While most of the sign is painted sheetmetal, the ice cream above the cone is a plastic insert. There is a lightbulb behind the panel to illuminate the ice cream. The two white lines above Foster's has a very faded ghost message which reads "A rich ice milk product"
L&L Restaraunt Equipment neon sign Located in the west side of Nashville along Charlotte Pk. (US 70)
Grantland Barber Shop neon sign seen at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati
Restaurant neon sign Old neon sign along US41 in Guthrie, KY
Angus Motel neon sign - Washington, GA This vintage motel sign is in Washington, GA along Business US78 on the east side of town.
Marshall Masonic Lodge - Guntersville, AL located next to the Marshall County Courthouse along US431
City Hall Cafe/Hudepohl Beer neon sign This neon sign is seen in the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. Specifically, it is in the local signs room.
Robert E Lee Motel sign (refurbished) About a year ago, when driving the old Lee Highway north of Bristol, I went looking for the old Robert E Lee Motel, which had a wonderful neon sign but had closed a few months earlier. The neon sign was gone and the motel was in serious disrepair. I ended up staying the night in the non-chain motel across the street. The lady at the front desk told me the sign was removed just a week before my stay and even though they were the competition, she was sad to see them go out of business. fast-forward to about 10 days ago. I'm driving the Lee Highway again, but this time I'm going further north to Abingdon, VA. Much to my shock, there's the sign! The neon tubes have been removed, but the sign has otherwise been restored to its previous glory and permanently mounted at RC's Storage. I believe they will take care of the sign as they had other vintage things on display here.
SkyVu Motel neon sign This sign is on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. According to their display: The early 1950s porcelain enamel neon sign originally identified a Kansas City are motel along Highway U.S. 40. It is a "transition sign" from the standpoint that it bridges the neon and the plastic eras as is evident in the plastic sun/moon and cloud formation, which are internally illuminated with neon.
Rainbow Autel (motel) sign A few days ago, I posted a picture of the new location of a restored Robert E Lee Motel sign. By the looks of it, this classic motel seign looks like it is about to be picked up and mounted at this same storage facility. The Rainbow Autel was about 25 miles up the road in Chilhowie, VA along the Lee Highway. Here's a story on the refurbishing of the sign: www.edandmarthabiggar.com/neonclass.html
Debbs Liquor - Beaumont, TX Located along US90.
Womack Tingler Jewelers neon sign This neon sign was at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. It wasn't on display, but during my visit in 2019, it was in the restoration shop. Unlike many museums, visitors are allowed to explore parts of the work area. I have no info on where the sign was originally.
Gus Cafe - Hattiesburg, MS
Colonel House Motel neon sign - Owensboro, KY Located along Triplett St. which used to be US231.
Natural Bridge Shoes neon sign This neon sign is on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. This sign was made by the Flexlume Sign Corp. of Buffalo, NY. It was made with a ripple tin sign cabinet which was often done with the earliest neon signs.
McCrorys neon sign - Galveston, TX I'm not sure what this store was - now out of business
Frisch's Mainliner - Fairfax, OH Frisch's Mainliner was a restaurant started by the Frisch family before they became the Ohio Franchisee of Big Boy. The location was along US50 in the Cincinnati suburb of Fairfax. In 2018, the store was remodeled to include a small Frisch's museum. A mainliner was a type of airplane popular in the 30s when the restaurant was opened and is featured in the sign.
Burger Bar - Bristol, VA According to legend, this could have been the last place Hank Williams stopped to eat before he died - as in his driver apparently asked if he wanted a bite to eat while passing by here and Williams said no. With this in mind, my wife and I decided to eat at the popular local greasy spoon while on our vacation. When we walked in, we found they had three tables and about 6 barstools, all taken the teeny tiny burger joint was packed so we went elsewhere,
Pure Gasoline neon sign This early neon sign is on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. According to their notes: The early 1930s art deco neon sign features a ripple tin cabinet and an intricate neon ribbon logo border. Sign was manufactured by Flexlume Sign Corp., Buffalo, NY. Neon was restored, including the Italian imported "Gasoline" tubing which simulates what would have originally been noviol gold glass.
Arabian Theater - Laurel, MS Theater dates to 1927 and the vintage sign has been preserved. Read the history here: www.laurellittletheatre.com/pages/stories.php
The Lady & Sons neon sign - Savannah, GA The Lady & Sons restaurant is where celebrity chef Paula Deen got her start. The restaurant dates back to 1989, but moved to the downtown Savannah location in 1996.
Buca di Beppo neon sign - Indianapolis The neon sign for the Buca di Beppo restaurant in downtown Indianapolis has a vintage look to it. However, the chain is less than 30 years old, so this sign can't be that old. I like the tipped bottle with drops into the glass.
Neon Golfer - American Sign Museum This neon golfer is on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati representing the Plastic Era of signs from 1950-1970. Here is their description: An excellent example of a sign bridging the Neon and Plastic eras by incorporating both type of illumination: backlit plastic and exposed neon. Sign originally identified a short nine-hole golf course at a former Rochester, NY amusement park. It originally was mounted on a pole and rotated: Unfortunately, the back half of the plastic golf ball was missing when the sign was purchased.
Old Kentucky Home Motel Bardstown is home to "My Old Kentucky Home" and this well maintained Motel is a couple of miles away on W. Stephen Foster Ave. (US 62) Although, it is really wise for a motel to have "old" in the title?
Colonial Inn neon sign - Indianapolis This Tavern on the south side of Indianapolis has a vintage neon sign advertising Liquor, Beer & Food. It's at the wedge-shaped intersection of Madison Ave. (Old US31) and Shelby St.
Frisch's Big Boy - American Sign Museum The American Sign Museum in Cincinnati has too many cool signs to fit in the museum, so a few are placed on the outside. Frisch's was the franchiser of Big Boy restaurants in Ohio, so this sign probably didn't travel too far. On the inside of the museum is a big boy statue, which you can see here: flic.kr/p/2iRWbgg
Schmitt Furniture neon sign - New Albany, IN This photo of the Schmitt Furniture neon sign was taken May 2018. According to google street view, it was removed by Sept. 2018. This side of the building faces state street, but there is a larger sign against the building along Main St. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the New Albany Downtown Historic District. Here are the notes from the listing: This two and a half story building has a tan brick facade with stone and pressed metal detailing, as well as decorative elements in darker brick. The State Street facade contains a three-part design on the upper floors, consisting of a central bay with four, oversized, round arched windows (now blocked, above which is a row over a row of narrow, flat headed windows unified by a decorative head). Above these is a decorative row of floral motifs. All of the large windows have surrounds of corbeled brick. Left and right of this central element are round arched windows, which run the full height of the upper part of the facade and which have round arched heads and which are enframed by brick pilasters with modified capitals with floral motifs. On the Main street facade, the three bay elements are retained by a central, round arched window with decorative surround, and two smaller flanking windows with wide, decorative lintels overtopped by individual round windows with highly decorative surrounds of floral and scrolled design. Above is a wide, projecting cornice with brackets and dentils. The lower or ground floor has been oversided with narrow limestone cladding and a wide aluminum canopy. This building also encompasses three additional buildings on the E. Main Street side: A two story building with a five bay facade, of brick, with a low side gabled roof and decorative cornice; a four bay building of the same height, with a similar roof and two Dutch gabled chimneys intact, and a smaller, four bay building with a flat parapet and round arched windows with plain, stone sills. All of these buildings are unified on the ground floor.
Bernie's Army and Navy Store neon sign seen at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati.
Original neon Mobil Pegasus - Dallas, TX My dad once told me how as a child growing up in Dallas in the 50's, he could see this neon Pegasus illuminating the skyline. It was rotating atop the tallest building in town. Mobil Oil owned that building for their headquarters and they used the winged horse Pegasus as their logo. Originally, the building was owned by the Magnolia Petroleum Company and the Pegasus was erected in 1934. After a merger with Mobil, they kept the Mobil name and the Magnolia Pegasus. Over the years, the Pegasus became a symbol for the city of Dallas. Eventually Mobil moved out of the building, and in 1999 it became the Magnolia Hotel. By that point, the sign already had severe mechanical problems. in 1999, it was taken down for repair, but they found it's problems too extensive for a quick repair. In its place, a new Pegasus was placed atop the Hotel, and was first illuminated at midnight of the new millennium. Fast forward to 2015, the original Pegasus underwent a complete restoration. It can now be seen atop a replica oil derrick in front of the Omni Hotel downtown. For the full story: interactives.dallasnews.com/2015/pegasus/
New neon Magnolia Pegasus - Dallas, TX My dad once told me how as a child growing up in Dallas in the 50's, he could see this neon Pegasus illuminating the skyline. It was rotating atop the tallest building in town. Mobil Oil owned that building for their headquarters and they used the winged horse Pegasus as their logo. Originally, the building was owned by the Magnolia Petroleum Company and the Pegasus was erected in 1934. After a merger with Mobil, they kept the Mobil name and the Magnolia Pegasus. Over the years, the Pegasus became a symbol for the city of Dallas. Eventually Mobil moved out of the building, and in 1999 it became the Magnolia Hotel. By that point, the sign already had severe mechanical problems. in 1999, it was taken down for repair, but they found it's problems too extensive for a quick repair. In its place, a new Pegasus was placed atop the Hotel, and was first illuminated at midnight of the new millennium. Fast forward to 2015, the original Pegasus underwent a complete restoration. It can now be seen atop a replica oil derrick in front of the Omni Hotel downtown. For the full story: interactives.dallasnews.com/2015/pegasus/
Trade Winds Motel - Grand Prairie, TX This motel with vintage sign is located along highway TX180 (old US80), the old highway which connects Dallas and Fort Worth. There are several old motels and neon signs along the route. I think I saw three with palm trees, although I don't really associate those with this part of the state. Most of Grand Prairie is in Dallas County, but this motel is located in the small portion on the Tarrant County side.
Union Hotel neon sign - Meridian, MS Here is the well-worn neon sign for Meridian's historic railroad hotel, which is two blocks from the passenger depot. The hotel opened ca. 1908 and is part of the Meridian Downtown Historic District. The hotel closed in 1973 but is not used as urban apartments.
Vintage Dairy Queen sign - Austin, IN Located along US31.
Philco - Swain Furniture sign This neon sign for Swain Furniture Co. advertising Philco Radios is on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. The sign with neon, porcelain and illuminated plastic has never been fully removed from its original crate despite being over 80 years old.
Colonial Dairy neon sign This neon sign is on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. This sign is from the 1950s and used to be partially animated. The mother cow's mouth used to move as if talking. "and always remember to provide pure rich milk for Colonial customers."
Hotel Grim - Texarkana, TX With a name like Hotel Grim, this sounds like the perfect place to stay for Halloween. Rumor has it that it really was one of the most haunted hotels in the state. This hotel opened in 1925 on the Texas side of Texarkana, just a stones throw from the state line. It is named after William Rhodes Grim who was a prominent local businessman. At the time, it was an opulent destination with marble floors and stone walls. However, they closed in 1990 and 30 years of neglect gave it a truly Grim outlook. However, the building has been recently restored and turned into apartments. loftsatthegrim.com/
Roh's Opera House neon sign - Cynthiana, KY Today, the Opera House is usually used as a movie theater. There's also a Walking Dead mural painted onto the back of the building: flic.kr/p/2m7qGaZ
Dulaney's Appliances Located at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati in the Main Street part of the museum.
Grill-Bar Tavern - Franklin, IN Located along Jefferson St.
Sorry Charlie's Oyster Bar - Savannah, GA
The Majestic Theater sign - Dallas, TX
Lee's Liquors neon sign - New Albany, IN Probably the only time I've seen a still as part of the sign.
Carter's By-Pass Motel Scottsville, KY, Located on Bowling Greed Rd. not far from the heart of town. If this was a by-pass, it's not labelled that on my map.
Howard Johnson's Restaurant neon This neon sign for a Howard Johnson's Restaurant is on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. This sign from the early 1960s originally identified a HoJo at Times Square in New York City. The location closed in the 1980s..
Howard Johnson's Restaurant neon According to the notes at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati, This Howard Johnson's Restaurant neon sign was part of the personal collection of Pompeo DeRenzo. He started at an entry level position but rose to become one of the company's top performing area manager a decade later. He finished his career managing the store in Towson, MD. When the store was rebranded, he kept this sign. The museum acquired the sign from his family in 2006. Here is some video from the museum, including video of how this sign animates: www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3PBGPCKEfE
Ashley Motel - Plainfield, IN Old neon sign for a motel which is still open. It's located along US40 about 3 miles west of the Indianapolis airport.
Texas Theater - Oak Cliff (Dallas) The Texas Theater in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas is well known as the place where the police captured Lee Harvey Oswald. In my personal family history, the Texas Theater is where my parents as Oak Cliff residents went on their first date in the mid 1950s. in 1998, my parents gave me a tour from where they grew up; at the time, the theater looked abandoned. Perhaps it would have been demolished if not for its place in history. It took me 20 years to get to come back, not sure how I would find it. Thankfully, it has new owners with a vision and today it thrives. Plus, it has a fantastic neon sign. Text of the historic marker: Constructed in 1931, the Texas Theatre was designed by architect W. Scott Dunne. The "Texas," the largest suburban theater in Texas when it was built, is an "atmospheric" theater, a genre designed to enhance the fantasy and exoticism of the movies. The two-story building, originally owned by C. R. McHenry, is located at the commercial heart of the community of Oak Cliff. The original appearance of the theater evoked an Italian medieval structure with Venetian influences expressed in the decorative brickwork and stone. The interior of the theater was designed with a Venetian court theme, complete with sound effects, clouds and a night sky of 118 twinkling stars in the auditorium. The original movie equipment was Motiograph Deluxe sound equipment, an extreme rarity at the time. The cooling and ventilating system was almost entirely invisible to the audience and consisted of two blowers powered by ten horsepower motors. In warm weather, the air was cooled through water. A renovation prior to 1956 resulted in the addition of stucco over the brick and stone façade. On November 22, 1963, following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald was apprehended in the auditorium, propelling the Texas Theatre into the international spotlight. In April 1965, the theater was remodeled extensively on the exterior and interior. The uppermost section of the façade was removed and the theater's vibrant designs were sealed under stucco. United Artists closed the theater in 1989. In 1991 it was used in the filming of the movie, "JFK." In 2001, the Oak Cliff Foundation bought the theater. This Dallas landmark was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. Aviation Cinemas reopened the theater in 2010. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2013 Another footnote: WFAA (Channel 8) in Dallas, TX reported that the marker here needs a clarification and will be replaced. Oswald was arrested here technically for shooting Officer J.D. Tippit a few blocks away. The marker says that Oswald was apprehended here for President Kennedy’s assassination. In reality, police didn’t file that charge against Oswald until nearly midnight on November 22.
Campisi's is not an Egyptian Restaurant - Dallas, TX Carlo Campisi moved from Sicily to the United States in 1904. In 1946, he was the first to serve pizza in Dallas. He purchased the Egyptian Lounge, but didn't have money in the budget to fully replace the signs. He kept the work Egyptian but changed Lounge to Restaurant. After Carlo passed away, Joseph Campisi took over the family business. The restaurant did well, but a well-to-do Italian creates rumors that he is part of the Mafia. These rumors were magnified by Joseph's relationship with noted mobster Jack Ruby. Jack Ruby is best know for the Assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald. Ruby also visited Joseph in this restaurant on the night before JFK came to town and was assassinated. Thus, JFK conspiracy theorists suggest plans were made here. Once Ruby was in prison Joseph continued to be a frequent visitor. Today, this restaurant is still owned by the same Campisi family, although they have expanded their locations. A sign by the door notes President George W. Bush sometimes eats here; his Presidential Library on the SMU campus is about 10 minutes away. I have a short video about this place here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzH8ZIGH57U
New Ideal - Birmingham, AL The New Ideal Department Store was a women's clothing store started by Robert Aland. This building at the corner of 2nd Ave. N and 18th St. was originally a Sears, but New Ideal moved into it, closing many years later in 1988. The building remained vacant for about 30 years, but has recently reopened as downtown lofts. This photo was taken while still vacant in 2012.
Wagon Wheel neon sign This neon sign is on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. It's located in the room of sign which were originally from the nearby area. The neon spokes go on and off around the circle to give the appearance the wagon wheel is moving.
Bo-Mac's Drive Inn - Shoals, IN Shakes - Sundaes - Root Beer - Sandwiches Along US50/US150
Big Red Liquors sign - Indianapolis Located in Downtown Indianapolis along Pennsylvania Ave.
Schuhmann's Click Clinic old sign Schuhman's was a camera store that operated in downtown Louisville for several decades until 2001. When they vacated the property, they left behind two of their neon signs. I don't know if the sign dates back to when the store opened in 1946, and I also don't know if the style of camera depicted in the image dates back that far. Someday, I need to get me one of these collapsable bellows cameras. today, the property is a strip club. The sign on the side of the building seen here remains unchanged. However, the sign at the entrance has been redesigned with the club's name in neon.
Messina's Shoe Repair neon sign This vintage neon sign is located in Grapevine, TX where they have maintained many historic buildings along the downtown Main Street area.
Hartunian Persian Rug Co. neon sign On display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. It's too dark to really show up well, but there is painted Persian architecture above the letters.
67 Motel - Worthington, IN This motel is now permanently closed and the neon tubes are long gone. This is along Indiana Highway 67 (also US231) on the south side of Worthington. On the left of the current 67, there's an old visible 6. When I look on Google Street View in 2008, this was pained as "67 INN" with MOTEL painted over a green background. The current look was between then and 2012.
Gust Mitchell Neon Signs Gust Mitchell Neon was a company which made neon signs. This painted sheetmetal neon sign from the mid 1950s was made to advertise their company in Pittsburgh, PA. The Gust Mitchell and NEON Signs parts alternate which is lit up. This is on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati.
Helms Candy Co. neon sign This building must have been their factory. It was located on the north side of Bristol, VA along the Lee Highway (US11/19). Helms was formed in 1976 when Jobbers and Loudy candy companies merged. The full history is here: www.helmscandy.com/companypage.html
Reeders Laundry Cleaners neon sign Eastern Blvd. - Clarksville, IN
Masonic Lodge neon sign - Austin, IN At the top is the standard Masonic logo, in the middle is the Order of the Eastern Star. At the bottom is the logo for Job's Daughters. The building with this sign is located along highway US31 in Austin, IN.
Howl at the Moon - Indianapolis
Ned's Shed Hamburgers - Vienna, IL Main St. @ 1st St, (US45)
Fitch's Store neon sign - Metropolis, IL Fitch's 5 cent - 10 cent - 1 dollar store. Located along Market St. in Metropolis.
Baxter Drugs neon sign - Baxter Springs, KS Along Route 66
Tow Tater neon sign - Galena, KS "Tow Tater" is an old tow truck which the people at Pixar used for the inspiration of Tow Mater in the Cars movie franchise. With that in mind, several Cars characters from Radiator Springs appear around the town of Galena. His home is Cars on the Route, which is a restored Kan-O-Tex service station and tourist stop on Route 66.
Baxter State Bank neon sign - Baxter Springs, KS Along Route 66 in Kansas.
United Pentecostal Church neon sign This neon sign is on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. It is an art deco porcelain enamel sign originally located in Shreveport, LA.
Round-up Cleaners - Oklahoma City This dry cleaners in Oklahoma City has a cowboy theme, with the silhouette of a head of a cowboy with hat in dark red on a lighter red background. The sign was made by Claude Federal Neon.
Miami Armature Works neon sign - Miami, OK This is a sign for the Electric motor repair company in Miami, OK. An Armature is the power producing component of an electric machine. This is located along Main St. in Miami, OK along Route 66. I'm not sure how old the sign is, but the company has been at this location since 1964 after 20 years at a prior location
Calvary Baptist Church neon sign - Oklahoma City The neon sign for the Calvary Baptist Church in downtown Oklahoma City has been preserved by the Dan Davis law firm which now occupies the building.
Goodwill sign on Route 66 Goodwill stores aren't known for their interesting signs. However, this store along Southwest Blvd in Tulsa can't pass up their placement on Route 66 with a modern sign of retro design. It looks like the store and sign were built in 2014.
Sunshine Laundry-Cleaners neon sign - OKC SUNSHINE LAUNDRY-CLEANERS Drive In SERVICE This three-sided scaffold sign is in Oklahoma City.
Avon Motel neon sign - Afton, OK this is the rusty and crusty neon sign for the Avon Motel on the west side of Afton, OK along Route 66. Originally, there were seven units but only 3 remain and carports were between each unit. They originally opened in 1936, and remained in business for over four decades; likewise, they have been closed for half a century.
Ranger Motel - El Reno, OK Seen along Route 66, the Ranger Motel is on the Southeast Side of El Reno.
Marshall Radio & TV Repair - Tulsa, OK At one point, they tried to cover up the RADIO with red paint, then used white letters and neon for VCR. Located along Admiral Pl. which was part of the original 1926 Route 66 alignment through town.
Lincoln Motel neon sign - Chandler, OK Lincoln Motel is a vintage motel along Route 66 in Chandler. This is also in Lincoln County, named for President Lincoln.
Chelsea Motel neon sign - Chelsea, OK The Chelsea Motel is located at an intersection of two different alignments of Route 66 in Chelsea, OK. One interesting touch of this sign is the wavy neon arrow at the top. When I check Google Street View, the red on this sign was painted between 2016 and 2018. The blue arrow at the bottom used to be a sign pointing to the office. On the area which says No Vacancy, the other side had a sign advertising showers. As for the motel itself, I wonder if someone attempted to renovate this place. during the same time, someone at least repainted the exterior, although it's a long way from being rentable. Still, someone might live here or the house behind it as often the street view shows a couple of cars here and the grass is usually mowed.
El Rancho Grande neon sign - Tulsa, OK I'm not sure how old this neon sign for a Mexican Restaurant is, but I like it. Also, it's located along Route 66 in Tulsa (11th St. alignment) In the design, the man is holding a rope which forms a lasso forming the word EL and then encircling Rancho Grande with Mexican Food below. I hope the man is careful as there's a venomous snake behind the cactus!
Classen Inn Superette - Oklahoma City Classen Inn appears to be a 1960s Motel in Oklahoma City which was renovated in 2020 to become a trendy retro stay. Looking at Google Street view: www.google.com/maps/@35.4760687,-97.5285964,3a,46y,25.53h... This sign has undergone some changes over the last 15 years. Back then, the pink part of the sign was dark red and the rectangle was blank. By 2011m much of it was dark red and MOTEL was added to the rectangle. The motel advertised new owners and low rates. In 2020 the motel was under renovation and the sign was temporarily removed. By 2021, it was made to look like this. The tubing for Vacancy must be beyond repair. This motel is located on Classen Blvd. in Oklahoma City. I would have considered staying here if I knew about it before my trip.
Waylan's Ku-Ku neon sign - Miami, OK The Ku-Ku was once a hamburger fast food chain, but Waylan's Ku-Ku along Route 66 in Miami, OK is the last surviving location. The signature design of the building has a ku-ku bird emerging from the front of the building as if it is a Cuckoo clock, although interior expansion makes it harder to get a good view of it. A second ku-ku has been placed by the menu board. And, of course the bird makes an appearance on the neon sign out front. As a bonus for Route 66 travelers, they keep a light blue Ford Fairlane at the base of the sign. Another thing you don't see at chains - My wife and I got there for supper at 5:15 only to learn they close at 5pm.
Habig's Home Cooking & Cocktails This neon sign is located at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. No information is provided, but it's in the room of local signage. This sign is animated in the way the lights on the right change - as a pouring drink, it slowly fills up.
Columbus Bar Neon Sign - Columbus, IN This neon sign is located along 4th St. in downtown Columbus. This photo was taken 4 years ago. (That's how big my backlog can get!) The surprising thing is while I was walking by, a friend from Middle Tennessee stopped me here. As it turns out, both of us were on business trips - he was helping out at his company's Columbus office while I was en route to a conference in Indianapolis. Small world.
Fireworks another way of telling when you are just outside of the big city... I-24 exit for Almaville.
Tower Theater - Oklahoma City This 1500 seat venue opened in 1937. It has one of the narrowest storefront I've seen for a cinema, as it has a long narrow hallway which leads to the theater further back from the street. The neon and Marquee still works and lights up at night. 23rd St. in Oklahoma is part of Route 66.
Rest Haven Motel - Afton, OK Here's the rusty neon sign for the Abandoned Rest Haven Motel along Route 66 in Afton, OK. The letters spelling Rest Haven at the top are a little easier to read on the other side, while almost all the neon tubing is missing. Route 66 through town is also still highway US60.
Will Rogers Motor Court - Tulsa, OK Will Rogers Motor Court is one of several neon signs at Route 66 Neon Sign Park in Tulsa, OK. This park is located at the Southwestern end of the 11th Street Bridge. This was historically the bridge which carried Route 66 over the Arkansas River near downtown Tulsa. This bridge was bypassed and closed in 1980, but preserved for its Route 66 history. The park contains three motel neon signs: Will Rogers Motor Court, Oil Capital Motel, Tulsa Auto Court. Each of these were prominent motels along Route 66 in the Tulsa area. Sadly, the original neon signs no longer exist, and these are replicas. They do light up at night. There is no parking here, so your best bet is to park in the lot a block east of Cyrus Avery Plaza, and walk across the replacement bridge here. There is a marker about the motel, which reads: Will Rogers Motor Court 5737 East 11th Street Paul and Dora Johnson purchased the Motel in the mid 1940s, a few years after it was built. Their son, Paul Jr., started managing the property in 1947. The iconic neon sign was built 4 year later. That shining beacon, coupled with awards from AAA and Duncan Hines, attracted leisure travelers from all over. The motel had 36 rooms with all of the amenities. A swimming pool was added in 1958 along with several more rooms to handle the increased traffic. The office switchboard was not only connected to each room, but also McCollum's Restaurant next door. The local diner provided room service for their guests. After the bypass was completed, business dwindled. The Johnson family sold the motel in 1977, after which it was used for storage. Sadly, it was demolished a few years later.
Yukon's Best Flour - Yukon, OK On this scaffold sign, the red part has neon lights as the words are light bulbs www.yukonok.gov/visit/attractions/m.staff/4705/view/397 The Yukon’s Best Flour Mill is what originally put Yukon on the Map. An iconic landmark of Route 66, the Mill is over a century old and still inspires residents and visitors. Once the sun sets, the Mill comes to life with lights lining the top and the historic “Yukon’s BEST Flour” sign lighting up just as it did years ago.
Yukon Mills light bulb sign - Yukon, OK www.yukonok.gov/visit/attractions/m.staff/4705/view/397 The Yukon’s Best Flour Mill is what originally put Yukon on the Map. An iconic landmark of Route 66, the Mill is over a century old and still inspires residents and visitors.
Hank's Hamburgers - Tulsa, OK This restaurant is along the Admiral Pl. alignment of Route 66 in Tulsa. They are the home of the six patties "Okie Dokie" burger.
Sonic Drive In on Route 66 Service with the speed of Sound The Sonic Drive In along Route 66 in Chandler, OK has an interesting sign. I'm not sure if it's a new sign to look old or a repurposed old sign, but the neon tubing has been removed. I'm guess it's new as this location has been here less than three years - they moved across the street and this was a residential lot.
The Stag Motel neon sign If you wonder why this photo looks funny, the sign was laying on its side and I rotated the picture to make the sign look upright. It was located outside the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. After a brief internet search, this appears to originally have been in Beaver, Utah - halfway between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. They must have catered to deer hunters since there is part of a deer head in the top left corner and there was a large deer herd in the area. I like how the background of MOTEL looks like a wood grain, as if it was a hunting lodge. The best for less
Cattlemen's Cafe neon sign - OKC If you looked at the exterior and then dined in the old section, you might not realize this is perhaps the most famous restaurant in Oklahoma City. Cattlemen' Cafe is spelled out in block letters on the neon sign in the foreground - a lantern hangs from another beam in front of it. Cattlemen's is also written in cursive in a neon sign over the main entrance. This is located in OKC's Stockyards district.
Deep Ellum Texas neon sign Deep Ellum is a newly trendy neighborhood in Dallas. This neon sign points the way for drivers coming from downtown.
Skyliner Motel - Route 66 - Stroud, OK No Vacancy
Neon Turntable This modern neon sign of a turntable for Josey Records is located along Route 66 is Tulsa.
Frigidaire neon sign This neon sign is at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. During my visit in 2019, it wasn't part of the main museum rooms, but in the repair room, which was open to the public.
Western Motel on Route 66 This vintage motel with neon sign are in Bethany, OK - a suburb to the west of Oklahoma City
Interparts of Tulsa neon sign - on Route 66 Interparts of Tulsa is an auto mechanic located on the 11th St. alignment of Route 66. While the neon sign is not one of the oldest along the route, it's still been there about 40 years.
American Transmissions neon sign - OKC This neon sign for a Transmission repair shop is located in Oklahoma City on Walker Ave. between 23rd and 24th St.
Vintage Dairy Queen sign - Andalusia, AL This old building is adorned with Dairy Queen logos, but the actual restaurant is to the left. My original thought was this was a very old DQ location, but they expanded by buying the building next door. Apparently, that's not the case, but I don't know for sure. Instead the building to the left is the original location and when this building became available, they bought it for the space and additional parking. Whatever the history is, they have a nice vintage neon sign across the top. The mural on the right has a Dairy Queen logo in the corner, but otherwise celebrates old schools of the county. See the mural here: flic.kr/p/2mwusPc
Elmer's Billiard Hall This neon sign is at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. According to their note, this is a 1950s mom-and-pop business painted sheet-metal neon sign. The note in the bottom right says it was built by Yeager Signs, but the location of this business is unknown.
Midway Trailer Court neon sign - Tulsa, OK This old neon sign is located along Route 66 on the west side of Tulsa. There doesn't appear to be much other evidence of this place aside from the sign, unless it's referring to the small trailer park behind the storefronts facing the road. I'd say there's a pretty good chance it said something else originally. This is a short walk from the Route 66 Historical Village which I think is a must see stop along Route 66.
Kool Breeze Motel - Dallas, TX This mom and pop motel is located in Dallas along the old highway to Irving (TX356). I saw a photo of this neon sign from 15 years ago where the background was red instead of blue. While I was in Dallas, I saw a nice lithograph of a montage of many neon signs in town. This was the only one I'd found which I had photographed. Thus, I wonder if this sign is considered iconic locally, or if it was randomly chosen.
Diehm Funeral Home This neon sign is at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. When I took this, it was in the restoration area of the building, which visitors can see, but it comes with no provided history.
Rock Cafe Sign - Stroud, OK Rock Cafe is an Iconic Route 66 restaurant in Stroud, OK. The Rock used to build it came from the construction of Route 66 and the owner was the inspiration of a Pixar Cars character. Here is its wikipedia article: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Caf%C3%A9 The Rock Café in Stroud, Oklahoma, a historic restaurant on U.S. Route 66, takes its name from the local sandstone used in its construction. Originally built in 1936 and opened in 1939, the Rock Café reopened on May 29, 2009 after extensive repairs by historic preservationist David Burke due to damage from a 2008 fire. The restaurant's cookbook, written during the rebuilding effort, was published in November 2009. Rock Café proprietor Dawn Welch, a long-time promoter of U.S. Route 66 in Oklahoma selected by The Oklahoman as Oklahoma's 2009 Woman of the Year, is the basis for animated character Sally Carrera in the Pixar film Cars. History Roy Rieves started building the Rock Café in 1936 during the Dust Bowl era of the Great Depression and relied on local materials to build the café's distinctive stone exterior, doing much of the construction work himself or hiring students. The original costs included $100 for the land and $5 for local Kellyville sandstone left over from construction on the U.S. Route 66 roadway which had come to Stroud, Oklahoma in 1926. The café opened in August 1939, initially operating under manager Miss Thelma Holloway, and was a busy local Greyhound bus stop during World War II. Its neon signage was installed in the late 1940s. Mamie Mayfield operated the Rock Café twenty-four hours a day in 1959 and retired at age 70 on July 14, 1983. Business from cross-country truckers declined with the construction of Interstate 44 in Oklahoma, a toll road, although Highway 66 remains as a free alternative to the Turner Turnpike. After U.S. Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985, highway 66 became Oklahoma State Highway 66. Dawn Welch, the current proprietor, acquired the café from Ed Smalley in 1993. Mamie J. Mayfield's (December 22, 1912 - September 25, 1994) name was kept alive in the form of a souvenir shop, Mamie's General Store. In 1999, an F3 tornado heavily damaged Stroud, destroying the town's 53-store Tanger Outlet mall and wiping out a handful of key local employers including a Sygma food service distribution facility. The Rock Café survived, though its neon sign was damaged, but business was down by half due to the state of the fragile local economy. In 2001, the Rock Café was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, qualifying it for matching grants and loans to finance its historic restoration. When the first Pixar crews researching Route 66 stopped at the Rock Café in 2001, restoration and repair of the 1999 tornado damage was not yet complete; the neon flickered briefly but failed to come to life. With a federal grant and a loan of $30,000 in matching funds, the Rock Café was restored with new heating and air conditioning systems, replacement of the original wiring, restoration of neon signage and a return of the building to its original layout. In 2007, travelling artist Bob Waldmire depicted the café in one of his works; Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives also devoted part of an episode to the Rock. On January 21, 2010, Dawn Welch appeared on NBC-TV´s Today show, cooking and promoting her book. The January 2010 edition of "Oklahoma Living" magazine named the Rock Café "Best Oklahoma Diner", featuring its proprietor in a cover photo. Stroud, Oklahoma also slowly began to recover economically through increased activity in the oil and gas sectors and in tourism. While the destroyed outlet shopping mall was not rebuilt, the community successfully marketed its industrial park, and is now a leading small city in oilfield manufacturing and transportation, particularly in the rail and pipeline sectors.
Desert Hills Motel neon sign - Tulsa, OK My Wife and I stayed at this vintage Route 66 Motel on our road trip last summer. The pros of staying here: This fantastic vintage sign. The Motel has retained some vintage features of a high end motel from back in the day - the walls facing the parking lot are zig-zagged or accordion-style for a memorable look. The bathroom had heated floors, which was very nice. The room itself was practically a museum - our room had a vintage black-and-white TV, a rotary telephone and typewriter. There were also modern amenities like a modern flat screen TV and a mini-fridge of retro design. The owner was nice. I asked if he sold post cards and he gave me one for free. the con of staying here: It's in a questionable neighborhood, and priced cheaper than the dependable chain motels. Thus the clientele was a mix of tourists and riff raff. The young couple in the next room drove a 60's station wagon, but there was a guy across the way who was yelling and cussing at me while I took this sign. Despite that, I'm glad I stayed here.
Back Door BBQ - Oklahoma City This photo was taken along 23rd St. (Route 66) in Oklahoma City. I took this photo last summer, and they went out of business three weeks later. I believe this is a new sign made to look old.as they were in business 8 years.
El Rancho Motel @ American Sign Museum This neon sign is located outside the entrance to the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. It's complete with a neon cactus and Pete. This motel opened in Desoto, KS in the 1950s but closed in the 1980s.
KGLC & KVIS Radio Neon Sign - Miami, OK These two radio stations have their office along Route 66 in Miami, OK.
Cre Mel Root Beer & Hamburgers This appears to be a vintage neon sign for a long gone restaurant in Grand Prairie, TX. However, it is next door to Theo's Drive-in. This sign is along highway TX180, which is former US80 and the old road to connect Dallas to Fort Worth.
Kelly Springfield Tires Button Sign This Kelly Springfield Tires sign is located at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. Dating back to the 1910s, this is an example of an electric sign which predates neon signs. There are clear or green colored "buttons" which are illuminated by lights inside the metal case. www.americansignmuseum.org/about/collection/200600680001#...
Exchange Rexall neon sign - OKC Exchange Pharmacy is a Rexall Drug Store in the stockyards area of Oklahoma City on the same block as Cattlemen's Club.
Furndware - Oak Cliff, Dallas, TX Reread the vertical portion of the sign. It didn't say what you think it said. FURNDWARE This neon sign has certainly been modified several times. I wondered if someone tried to change HARDWARE to FURNITURE and gave up along the way. But, it is intentional - Furndware is a recording studio. The top part of Oak Cliff Paint had the right 1/4th of the sign cut off. On the other side, it's the left 1/4th. The middle has a sign for Toro Mowers. The bottom panel originally was for Gibson Appliances. The address of 829 West Jefferson has been added to this panel in neon.
Kroger neon sign I believe the Kroger grocery store chain is headquartered in Cincinnati. The American Sign Museum has an early Kroger store sign on display in their local sign room.
City Pharmacy Rexall neon sign - Grand Saline, TX Grand Saline, TX in Van Zandt County
Oil Capital Motel - Tulsa Oil Capital Motel is one of several neon signs at Route 66 Neon Sign Park in Tulsa, OK. This park is located at the Southwestern end of the 11th Street Bridge. This was historically the bridge which carried Route 66 over the Arkansas River near downtown Tulsa. This bridge was bypassed and closed in 1980, but preserved for its Route 66 history. The park contains three motel neon signs: Will Rogers Motor Court, Oil Capital Motel, Tulsa Auto Court. Each of these were prominent motels along Route 66 in the Tulsa area. Sadly, the original neon signs no longer exist, and these are replicas. They do light up at night. There is no parking here, so your best bet is to park in the lot a block east of Cyrus Avery Plaza, and walk across the replacement bridge here. There is a marker about the motel, which reads: Oil Capital Motel 802 West Skelly Drive Robert and Bette Saxby opened the Oil Capital Motel in 1958, one year before the road was designated as the US 66 Bypass. The exterior was made of cedar and each of the 24 rooms were filled with cowboy-style oak furniture. The oil derrick and pumpjack out front were donated by Bethlehem Steel and lit at night; this unique feature along with the large neon sign made it easy to remember for traveling salesmen that came through regularly. The on-site swimming pool and the Bellaire Drive-In across the street also contributed to the motel's popularity. The Saxbys, along with business partners John and Earl Lewis, sold the property in 1962 to Lee and Oleta Vaughan. It remained the Oil Capital Motel until 1994.
Pinion Mfg & Supply Co - Tulsa, OK This is the neon sign for Pinion Manufacturing and Supply Co. in Tulsa. The sign dates back to a time when the 7 digit phone number started with two letters (Early 50s or older, I think). This was located along the Admiral Pl. alignment of Route 66 through Tulsa.
Route 66 Milk Bottle - Oklahoma City This large Milk Bottle is an iconic stop along Route 66 in Oklahoma City. It was built in 1948 and placed atop a small triangular grocery store, although the store has changed often over the years. The Milk Bottle Grocery building has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The bottle itself is 11 feet tall and 8 feet in diameter. Over the years, the bottle advertised Sterling Milk, Meadow Gold, Steffen's and Townley's. Ever since 1996, it features Braum's - the popular Oklahoma fast food chain which also sells milk and other grocery items inside the store. The Braum's logo and bottle were repainted most recently in April, 2021. More info and vintage photos: www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2021/04/11/route-66-landmark...
Norm Smith Auto Sales - OKC neon sign along Route 66 in Oklahoma City on the west side.
Clown Hamburgers - Haltom City, TX You might think it's crazy or creepy, but it's an iconic sign for the popular restaurant since the 50's in the Fort Worth suburb of Haltom City. It looks like there are holes for the neon, but those tubes are long gone and the paint is peeling.
Wilson Art Stores neon palette sign Part of the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. The sign also says Since 1907.
Emerald Springs neon sign - Bethany, OK Emerald Springs Pools & Spas has this neon sign along Route 66 in Bethany, OK, a suburb of Oklahoma City. I like the neon palm tree.
Cassano's Pizza King sign under repair Vic Cassano's Pizza King is a chain of fast food Pizza restaurants in Southwest Ohio. This mid-to-late 1950s sign was under repair at the American Sign Museum. One thing I appreciate about this museum is visitors are allowed to venture into some of the rooms where repairs can be made. This photo was taken in 2019, so who knows what has happened to it since. This one was in addition to another completely restored version of the sign, which is my most popular photo from the museum: flic.kr/p/2fvZrfX
American Cafe - Guthrie, KY This was originally the neon sign for another establishment, one that sold ice cream. The neon tubes were removed and the sign painted. Update: This sign was seen in the music video for Jack White - Corporation at 3:30. (The mountains in the background were digitally added.) youtu.be/8vKTaoxvZMY?t=209
Oasis Motel - Route 66 - Tulsa, OK I wish I had a chance to see this one before dusk. It is located along the 11th St. alignment or Route 66 through Tulsa.
Route 66 Bowl - Chandler, OK This bowling establishment is located along Route 66. They have a nice sign and if you stop and drive through the parking lot, they have many gas station signs like the Texaco in the background. On the inside, there is more Route 66 and vintage sign theming.
Pioneer Bar - American Sign Museum According to museum notes, this is a ca. 1948 neon-illuminated, painted tin sign for a bar in Lima, OH.
Al's Bait & Beer Depot. Way on the outskirts of Louisville on highway US31W
Sherri's Diner neon sign - Oklahoma City
Bristow Body Shop neon sign Located in Bristow, OK along Route 66. With the small F at the top middle of the sign, this was once a Firestone. Today, the building is a coffee shop, but they kept the old sign.
A&B Lobster House Restaurant neon sign - Key West, FL
Rusty Neon Sign - Route 66 - Tulsa This sign is old enough where it was repurposed and both the old and new messages have faded together. The newer yellow neon tubes was USED CARS. The cursive white tubes were for the owner's last name BYFORD. The older block letters look like ERE PARK. The lower sign also has the words THE WORKING MAN'S FRIEND which was Byford's motto. At the bottom, it said RESTAURANT. This neon sign is seen along the Admiral Pl. alignment of Route 66 through Tulsa. Correction: It's actually along 3rd St. which might be part of the 1926-32 alignment of Route 66, but other maps say 2nd St. is the actual alignment.
Eagles Club Neon Sign This neon sign is located at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. Here is their description: The Mid 1930s art deco style neon sign is porcelain enamel and originally identified the Eagles Club of Lima, OH. The raised or embossed letters signifies the sign was manufactured by Artkraft Signs of Lima, OH, which had a patent for the technique.
Tulsa Auto Court Tulsa Auto Court is one of several neon signs at Route 66 Neon Sign Park in Tulsa, OK. When it lights up at night, there are green neon tubes above and below both Tulsa and Court. All of the words and outline of the car are white tubes. This park is located at the Southwestern end of the 11th Street Bridge. This was historically the bridge which carried Route 66 over the Arkansas River near downtown Tulsa. This bridge was bypassed and closed in 1980, but preserved for its Route 66 history. The park contains three motel neon signs: Will Rogers Motor Court, Oil Capital Motel, Tulsa Auto Court. Each of these were prominent motels along Route 66 in the Tulsa area. Sadly, the original neon signs no longer exist, and these are replicas. They do light up at night. There is no parking here, so your best bet is to park in the lot a block east of Cyrus Avery Plaza, and walk across the replacement bridge here. There is a marker about the motel, which reads: Tulsa Auto Court 8833 East Admiral Place When Route 66 was originally established in 1926, it came into Tulsa from the east on 11th Street but turned north on Mingo road for one mile and continues into town on Federal Drive (now Admiral Place). Although the Tulsa Auto Court was established in the 1950s-long after highway 66 was re-aligned to take 11th Street all the way into downtown-it joined a host of other automobile-and-traveler related businesses that were established during those early Mother Road years. The neon sign out front was a vibrant way to encourage people to stop for the night. Originally owned and operated by Mrs. Charles Wyatt, this motel also featured wall furnaces, full tile bathrooms, and kitchenettes. It continued to be known as the Tulsa Auto Court until 1989.
Liggett Rexall Drugs - Dania Beach Located along highway US1 near the intersection with A1A
Majestic Neon Sign - Miami Beach Art Deco District This hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Miami Beach Architectural District, also known as the Miami Art Deco District. This district has the world's best collection of Art Deco buildings in the world with hundreds of contributing properties in the district. This concentration of Art Deco motels was caused by the 1926 Great Miami Hurricane which destroyed many prior properties, plus the increasing popularity of the area as a tourist destination over the next 25 years.
The Gale - Miami Beach Art Deco District This hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Miami Beach Architectural District, also known as the Miami Art Deco District. This district has the world's best collection of Art Deco buildings in the world with hundreds of contributing properties in the district. This concentration of Art Deco motels was caused by the 1926 Great Miami Hurricane which destroyed many prior properties, plus the increasing popularity of the area as a tourist destination over the next 25 years. 1690 Collins Ave.
ROH'S Hardware neon sign Located at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. Here's the story: asm.stqry.app/en/story/157937 All but one of the storefronts are fictitious, the exception being Roh’s Hardware. Roh’s Hardware was a Cincinnati landmark in the 1500 block of Vine Street in Cincinnati’s Over the Rhine neighborhood. The store closed in 2009 and its building was sold to become a wine bar. The museum inquired about acquiring the “ROHS” neon-lit porcelain letters. Further conversations determined that, in fact, the entire storefront façade of porcelain enamel panels was scheduled to be removed and scrapped, prompting the museum to ask if they could have the entire façade. The new owners heartily approved and the entire façade was removed, panel-by-panel and re-installed on the museum’s Main Street. Even the original front door was acquired and re-hung in all its patina-ed glory.
Moore's Bar - Greencastle, IN
Time to Save - Bristol, VA I'm not sure what business this used to represent. It was seen along State Street in Bristol
Drink Pepsi Cola Neon Sign - Dallas, TX I'm not sure if this sign has much of a history more than a decade. It's located atop a parking garage and faces the Dallas Aquarium near downtown.
Holiday Inn sign outside the American Sign Museum Holiday Inn was known for their iconic 1950's motel sign during the golden age of automobile travel. This sign is located outside the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. This specific sign came from Las Vegas as described here: www.americansignmuseum.org/collection_item/2-00201e11-51/ I first learned about this wonderful museum because this sign appeared in a friend's social media post. He's not particularly interested in neon signs like I am, but he was asked to officiate a wedding which was held here. The wedding party, including my friend, had a group portrait in front of this sign.
The Colony Hotel (Front dusk view) - Miami Beach The Colony Hotel might be the most famous hotel in Miami Beach, in an area known for it historic hotel architecture. This hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Miami Beach Architectural District, also known as the Miami Art Deco District. This district has the world's best collection of Art Deco buildings in the world with hundreds of contributing properties in the district. This concentration of Art Deco motels was caused by the 1926 Great Miami Hurricane which destroyed many prior properties, plus the increasing popularity of the area as a tourist destination over the next 25 years. In particular, The Colony Hotel was one of the first, designed by Henry Hohauser in 1935. It's also in a prime location along Ocean Blvd. with Lummus Park and South Beach across the street. With the distinctive blue letters, several hotels in the area are often photographed together to demonstrate the area's varied and vibrant color at night. I usually don't post so may photos of one subject, but for once I decided to stay at an iconic hotel. Compared to other places in the area, it was surprisingly affordable. They had several bad reviews, but I believe most of them were before new ownership and a remodel. I would love to visit again someday.
The Colony Hotel Neon Sign (Angled View) - Miami Beach The Colony Hotel might be the most famous hotel in Miami Beach, in an area known for it historic hotel architecture. This hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Miami Beach Architectural District, also known as the Miami Art Deco District. This district has the world's best collection of Art Deco buildings in the world with hundreds of contributing properties in the district. This concentration of Art Deco motels was caused by the 1926 Great Miami Hurricane which destroyed many prior properties, plus the increasing popularity of the area as a tourist destination over the next 25 years. In particular, The Colony Hotel was one of the first, designed by Henry Hohauser in 1935. It's also in a prime location along Ocean Blvd. with Lummus Park and South Beach across the street. With the distinctive blue letters, several hotels in the area are often photographed together to demonstrate the area's varied and vibrant color at night. I usually don't post so may photos of one subject, but for once I decided to stay at an iconic hotel. Compared to other places in the area, it was surprisingly affordable. They had several bad reviews, but I believe most of them were before new ownership and a remodel. I would love to visit again someday.
The Colony Hotel (Front cloudy night view) - Miami Beach The Colony Hotel might be the most famous hotel in Miami Beach, in an area known for it historic hotel architecture. This hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Miami Beach Architectural District, also known as the Miami Art Deco District. This district has the world's best collection of Art Deco buildings in the world with hundreds of contributing properties in the district. This concentration of Art Deco motels was caused by the 1926 Great Miami Hurricane which destroyed many prior properties, plus the increasing popularity of the area as a tourist destination over the next 25 years. In particular, The Colony Hotel was one of the first, designed by Henry Hohauser in 1935. It's also in a prime location along Ocean Blvd. with Lummus Park and South Beach across the street. With the distinctive blue letters, several hotels in the area are often photographed together to demonstrate the area's varied and vibrant color at night. I usually don't post so may photos of one subject, but for once I decided to stay at an iconic hotel. Compared to other places in the area, it was surprisingly affordable. They had several bad reviews, but I believe most of them were before new ownership and a remodel. I would love to visit again someday.
The Colony Hotel (corner view) - Miami Beach The Colony Hotel might be the most famous hotel in Miami Beach, in an area known for it historic hotel architecture. This hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Miami Beach Architectural District, also known as the Miami Art Deco District. This district has the world's best collection of Art Deco buildings in the world with hundreds of contributing properties in the district. This concentration of Art Deco motels was caused by the 1926 Great Miami Hurricane which destroyed many prior properties, plus the increasing popularity of the area as a tourist destination over the next 25 years. In particular, The Colony Hotel was one of the first, designed by Henry Hohauser in 1935. It's also in a prime location along Ocean Blvd. with Lummus Park and South Beach across the street. With the distinctive blue letters, several hotels in the area are often photographed together to demonstrate the area's varied and vibrant color at night. I usually don't post so may photos of one subject, but for once I decided to stay at an iconic hotel. Compared to other places in the area, it was surprisingly affordable. They had several bad reviews, but I believe most of them were before new ownership and a remodel. I would love to visit again someday.
The Colony Hotel - Miami Beach The Colony Hotel might be the most famous hotel in Miami Beach, in an area known for it historic hotel architecture. This hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Miami Beach Architectural District, also known as the Miami Art Deco District. This district has the world's best collection of Art Deco buildings in the world with hundreds of contributing properties in the district. This concentration of Art Deco motels was caused by the 1926 Great Miami Hurricane which destroyed many prior properties, plus the increasing popularity of the area as a tourist destination over the next 25 years. In particular, The Colony Hotel was one of the first, designed by Henry Hohauser in 1935. It's also in a prime location along Ocean Blvd. with Lummus Park and South Beach across the street. With the distinctive blue letters, several hotels in the area are often photographed together to demonstrate the area's varied and vibrant color at night. I usually don't post so may photos of one subject, but for once I decided to stay at an iconic hotel. Compared to other places in the area, it was surprisingly affordable. They had several bad reviews, but I believe most of them were before new ownership and a remodel. I would love to visit again someday.
The Colony Hotel (Daytime View) - Miami Beach The Colony Hotel might be the most famous hotel in Miami Beach, in an area known for it historic hotel architecture. This hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Miami Beach Architectural District, also known as the Miami Art Deco District. This district has the world's best collection of Art Deco buildings in the world with hundreds of contributing properties in the district. This concentration of Art Deco motels was caused by the 1926 Great Miami Hurricane which destroyed many prior properties, plus the increasing popularity of the area as a tourist destination over the next 25 years. In particular, The Colony Hotel was one of the first, designed by Henry Hohauser in 1935. It's also in a prime location along Ocean Blvd. with Lummus Park and South Beach across the street. With the distinctive blue letters, several hotels in the area are often photographed together to demonstrate the area's varied and vibrant color at night. I usually don't post so may photos of one subject, but for once I decided to stay at an iconic hotel. Compared to other places in the area, it was surprisingly affordable. They had several bad reviews, but I believe most of them were before new ownership and a remodel. I would love to visit again someday.
The Colony Hotel Neon Sign (Front View) - Miami Beach The Colony Hotel might be the most famous hotel in Miami Beach, in an area known for it historic hotel architecture. This hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Miami Beach Architectural District, also known as the Miami Art Deco District. This district has the world's best collection of Art Deco buildings in the world with hundreds of contributing properties in the district. This concentration of Art Deco motels was caused by the 1926 Great Miami Hurricane which destroyed many prior properties, plus the increasing popularity of the area as a tourist destination over the next 25 years. In particular, The Colony Hotel was one of the first, designed by Henry Hohauser in 1935. It's also in a prime location along Ocean Blvd. with Lummus Park and South Beach across the street. With the distinctive blue letters, several hotels in the area are often photographed together to demonstrate the area's varied and vibrant color at night. I usually don't post so may photos of one subject, but for once I decided to stay at an iconic hotel. Compared to other places in the area, it was surprisingly affordable. They had several bad reviews, but I believe most of them were before new ownership and a remodel. I would love to visit again someday.
The Colony Hotel (Front Night View) - Miami Beach The Colony Hotel might be the most famous hotel in Miami Beach, in an area known for it historic hotel architecture. This hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Miami Beach Architectural District, also known as the Miami Art Deco District. This district has the world's best collection of Art Deco buildings in the world with hundreds of contributing properties in the district. This concentration of Art Deco motels was caused by the 1926 Great Miami Hurricane which destroyed many prior properties, plus the increasing popularity of the area as a tourist destination over the next 25 years. In particular, The Colony Hotel was one of the first, designed by Henry Hohauser in 1935. It's also in a prime location along Ocean Blvd. with Lummus Park and South Beach across the street. With the distinctive blue letters, several hotels in the area are often photographed together to demonstrate the area's varied and vibrant color at night. I usually don't post so may photos of one subject, but for once I decided to stay at an iconic hotel. Compared to other places in the area, it was surprisingly affordable. They had several bad reviews, but I believe most of them were before new ownership and a remodel. I would love to visit again someday.
Parker's Drive-in neon sign - Paducah KY Along with a neon ice cream cone, if has a neon hamburger with quite a bit of neon detail. My wife and I stopped here for a meal during a multi-state road trip.
La Jolla Resort neon sign - Islamorada, FL Located along the Overseas Highway (US1) in the Florida Keys.
Seminole Theater - Homestead, FL seminoletheatre.org/about/seminole-theatre-history notes: In 1912, The Airdome Theater was built in Miami. It was dismantled and rebuilt in Homestead, then renamed Seminole Theater in 1919. That theater was closed and a second Seminole Theater was opened in 1921. It burned down in 1940. This one, the third Seminole Theater with an Art Deco exterior ws built in 1940. Closed in 1979 Damaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Preservationists helped reopen it in 2015.
Lancaster Theater neon sign - Grapevine, TX I have uploaded photos of the neon signs of historic downtown Grapevine's Lancaster Theater and Palace Theater at the same time. Both are part of the art deco era Palace Arts Center. Palace Theater was built in 1940 and was saved from demolition in 1991. The Lancaster Theater is more modern as a 1930s grocery store next door was converted to a theater as part of the Palace restoration.
Palace Theater neon sign - Grapevine, TX I have uploaded photos of the neon signs of historic downtown Grapevine's Lancaster Theater and Palace Theater at the same time. Both are part of the art deco era Palace Arts Center. Palace Theater was built in 1940 and was saved from demolition in 1991. The Lancaster Theater is more modern as a 1930s grocery store next door was converted to a theater as part of the Palace restoration.
Prairie Dog Drive In - Grand Prairie, TX I apologize for the huge power line in the view, but I like the sign so much, I'm uploading it anyway. This restaurant is located along Main St. (Old US80, TX180) in Grand Prairie.
Overseas Liquors neon sign - Marathon, FL The Overseas Pub and Grill is located in the Florida Keys along the Overseas Highway (US1).
Henry Hotel neon sign - Mineola, TX Along US80 in Mineola. I wonder how the sign was damaged.
Sid & Roxie's Green Turtle Inn neon sign (dusk) - Islamorada, FL Despite the name, this is today only a restaurant - It was a motel at one time, but the original building was replaced in 2004. It's located in Islamorada along the Overseas Highway (US1) in the Florida Keys. Sid & Roxie Siderious ran this establishment starting in 1947 until they sold it in 1996. I can't find a date on the old sign, but the neon turtle appears animated.
Sid & Roxie's Green Turtle Inn neon sign (day) - Islamorada, FL Despite the name, this is today only a restaurant - It was a motel at one time, but the original building was replaced in 2004. It's located in Islamorada along the Overseas Highway (US1) in the Florida Keys. Sid & Roxie Siderious ran this establishment starting in 1947 until they sold it in 1996. I can't find a date on the old sign, but the neon turtle appears animated.
Keller's Drive-In neon sign - Dallas, TX This is an old-fashioned burger and milkshake Drive-in where a carhop comes to take your order, then brings your food. They are cash only, and it's been a long time since I've seen that. It's located on Northwest Highway (TX12) in Dallas.
Dairy Way neon sign - Mineola, TX Cabell's Dairy Foods Campbell's Drive-In Seen along US80
Gross Hardware Neon Sign - American Sign Museum Originally from Columbus, Indiana but now outside the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. Read more: signmuseum.blogspot.com/2011/10/its-hammer-time.html
Pearl's Cherokee Inn - Arlington, TX Also known as Pearl's Cherokee Lounge, this is one of the oldest neon signs in Arlington. They celebrated their 60th birthday last year: arlingtontoday.com/pearls-cherokee-lounge-turns-60/
Sea Watch neon sign - Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL This neon sign is for an oceanfront restaurant along highway A1A in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Loving Oil & Gas neon sign - Dallas This vintage gas station sign is located at 4600 East Grand Ave. in the Jubilee Park neighborhood of Dallas. I believe the sign dates back the 40s and not part of a chain. It appears to have not been a gas station for a long time and the current owners have the area fenced off. The neon tubes are still gone, but I'm glad the this has never been repainted.
Longview News-Journal neon sign The News-Journal is the newspaper of Longview, TX. The neon sign is located around the back of their building at the end of E. Tyler St.
Neon Signs: Provident Bank / Suders Art Store / Budna Grill All on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. All three are in the room of local Cincinnati signs. Suders is still located at Vine Street, but Budna Grill at North College Hill is now gone.
Wotel South Pacific - Miami, FL After you saw this picture, did you assume it said Motel? I did. It took me a while to realize it said Wotel instead of Motel. So what's a Wotel? It Motel is short for Motor Hotel, then Wotel is short for Work Hotel. So what is a Work Hotel? This former Motel is located in the Miami Modern (MiMo) District. (Notes below explain more about this district.) The people who preserved South Pacific thought the best way to do so would be to turn the former guest rooms into small workplaces. If you were a sole proprietor and only needed a small place to meet clients, perhaps this is more fun and affordable than a traditional office park or strip mall. Here is an explanation of MiMo from Wikipedia: Miami Modernist architecture, or MiMo, is a regional style of architecture that developed in South Florida during the post-war period. The style was internationally recognized as a regionalist response to the International Style. It can be seen in most of the larger Miami and Miami Beach resorts built after the Great Depression. Because MiMo styling was not just a response to international architectural movements but also to client demands, themes of glamour, fun, and material excess were added to otherwise stark, minimalist, and efficient styles of the era. The style can be most observed today in Middle and Upper Miami Beach along Collins Avenue, as well as along the Biscayne Boulevard corridor starting from around Midtown, through the Design District and into the Upper Eastside. Today, the area along Biscayne Boulevard is the designated MiMo Architecture Biscayne Boulevard Historic District or also known as "MiMo on BiBo", for "Miami Modern on Biscayne Boulevard". MiMo Historic District runs roughly from 50th Street to 77th Street along Biscayne Boulevard, although MiMo can be found heavily in the Miami Design District and Midtown. Many annual festivals are held to promote MiMo architecture, such as "Cinco de MiMo" a play on "Cinco de Mayo" in early May. Biscayne Boulevard throughout the Upper East Side fell to urban decay after the 1980s, and experienced increased crime, prostitution and drug dealings. In the 2000s, preservation efforts began to bring development interest into the neighborhood, and Biscayne Boulevard began to improve. Today, the boulevard is in a fast upwards transition along with many other nearby neighborhoods such as the Design District, Wynwood and Edgewater, with strong preservation efforts to preserve the MiMo architecture.
Fiesta Inn - Arlington, TX Located along the decommissioned US80 between Dallas and Fort Worth, this motel was originally the Fiesta Motor Inn. Today, Division St. in Arlington is TX180 and the hotel is part of the Budget Host Inn chain and America's Best Value Inn before that. At least most of the sign is unchanged and dates back to the 1950s.
Starlite Hotel Neon Sign - Miami Beach, FL While not the most specifically photographed hotel in historic Miami Beach, its prominent colorful neon and placement along Ocean Blvd. make it appear in hotel group shots often. The Starlite opened in 1952 at 750 Ocean Dr. and was designed by Master of Modernism architect Gilbert Fein. This section was taken from the Miami Beach Art Deco District nomination form for the National Register of Historic Places on page 516: North of the district boundaries, postwar hotels developed into expansive flamboyant resorts as the local MiMo style emerged. Within the MBAD, Postwar Modem hotels were restricted by the size of available real estate. Small postwar hotels in the MBAD followed closely the pattern set by small hotels constructed here before World War II, although with fewer decorative pretensions. They were built on single lots with front patios and maintained the tight knit scale and distinctive frontage of the established district with compatible lot coverage and massing. This consistency in size, materials and spacing contributes to the sense of place that is conveyed by the district as a whole. These hotels do not interrupt the rhythm of the street, rather they add to the cohesive nature of the district while employing design elements that are clearly of the postwar era. The fenestration of Post War Modem hotels was often highlighted with boxed windows, as well as continuous ribbon windows and eyebrows. The windows themselves tended to be single-light windows - sometimes jalousies, but as air conditioning became more common, operable windows were no longer needed in order to cool a building, and thus, postwar windows were often fixed. Gilbert Fein’s 1952 Starlite Hotel at 750 Ocean Drive is a prominent example of the Postwar Modem style as applied to the famous hotel row along Ocean Drive. The building was constructed on a single lot, has a raised front patio, is relatively low-scale with its four-story height and is made of concrete and stucco, like its neighbors. Fein contrasts a vertical orientation on the north with a traditional horizontal emphasis on the rest of the building. The windows are boxed, and on the north, wrap around the comer and project from the main face of the building. The smooth stucco is broken by score lines forming a grid on the north and between the boxed windows.
Hurd Shoes - American Sign Museum First Quality Utica Rubber Footwear This neon sign is on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. Originally, it was apparently used at their building in Utica, NY.
Iris Theater neon sign - Terell, TX Located along US80 in Terell, TX, the theater was built in 1925, but closed in 2001. This sign was refurbished in 2015.
Tropical Acres neon sign - Dania Beach, FL Tropical Acres is a steakhouse in Dania Beach, FL. The sign is located along U.S. Highway 1 at Old Griffin Rd. Not only was the restaurant established in 1949, but the sign was apparently put up that year as well. (Source: www.browardpalmbeach.com/best-of/2001/arts-and-entertainm... ) The arrows on either side of "2 Miles" is relatively new. Originally, those arrows weren't there. Instead there was a red arrow portion of the sign at the top with the words Steak House, but this part of the sign was hurt by Hurricane Wilma. On the other side of the bottom part with "Est. 1949" says "Welcome to Dania Beach"
Dalton Pawnbrokers neon sign
Jobe's Drive-In neon sign - El Reno, OK Seen along Route 66. When compared to Google street view, this sign has been completely repainted in the last year, but the neon sign for JOBES at the top looks about the same.
Gragg Motor Co. Neon Sign - Wichita Falls, TX Gragg Motor Co. opened in Wichita Falls in 1947, but that business has since closed. I'm not sure if this sign is that old, but at one time they had three vintage neon signs at their business. About five years ago, a new clothing boutique took over the location. Two of their signs have been repainted for the new business. However, this sign has not been changed and they've parked a flower-power painted VW bus underneath it. (VW: www.instagram.com/p/C8YOtRqsG3D/ )
Glancy Motor Hotel - Route 66 - Clinton, OK
Palace Theater - Childress, TX The Palace Theater is a contributing property to the Childress Commercial and Civic Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also listed as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. Notes from the nominating form: One‐part commercial block movie theater in the Art Moderne style with zigzag detailing, horizontal striped metal canopy, recessed entry with projecting ticket booth, black and white tiles in horizontal stripe pattern, and vertical "Palace" theater sign. The theater retains a high level of integrity. The Palace Theater was opened in 1937 after a previous theater was destroyed by fire. The theater was opened and operated by Mrs. Mable Phipps, widow of F. M. Phipps, and G. R. Layton, son of the late G. S. Layton.
McLain Rogers Park neon sign entrance - Clinton, OK I can't think of another park I've seen with a neon sign. Likewise, I can't think of another New Deal/WPA project with a neon sign. With that in mind, this Art Deco sign Gate has certainly been well-maintained over the decades. Also, to add to the coolness factor, this entrance is along Route 66. The park is on the National Register of Historic Places. Here's what the form says about the East Gate: Located at the intersection of Bess Rogers Drive and Tenth Street, this striking gateway to the park was, and remains, the main entrance which welcomed visitors off Route 66. Thus even local visitors came to the park by Route 66. Built in impressive zigzag Art Deco style, the gate consists of two brick piers on either side of Bess Rogers Drive that support a cross member with neon lights with the name of the park. The piers are carefully, and elaborately, built so that the core of each has recessed corners, but are buttressed with additional staggered, reinforcing brickwork, each element capped with concrete painted dark green. The combination of light brick and progressively narrowing mass give the piers a tower-like impression. The horizontal metal beam connecting the piers continues the zigzag motif and neon lighting (still functioning) bears the name of the mayor for whom the park is named in a modernistic font: McLain Rogers Park. The East Gate is a contributing structure.
West Texas Utilities Company neon sign - Clarendon, TX
95.9 The Ranch FM neon sign - Ft. Worth, TX This neon sign for a country music Radio station is downtown Ft. Worth. I don't have a date on the sign, but the station started broadcasting in 1970 but switched to Country Music in 1981.
Colorful Miami Beach Art Deco Hotels at night These three South Beach hotels are frequently photographed together with their colorful appearance and their central location. The Colony Hotel might be the most famous hotel in Miami Beach, in an area known for it historic hotel architecture. This hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Miami Beach Architectural District, also known as the Miami Art Deco District. This district has the world's best collection of Art Deco buildings in the world with hundreds of contributing properties in the district. This concentration of Art Deco motels was caused by the 1926 Great Miami Hurricane which destroyed many prior properties, plus the increasing popularity of the area as a tourist destination over the next 25 years. In particular, The Colony Hotel was one of the first, designed by Henry Hohauser in 1935. It's also in a prime location along Ocean Blvd. with Lummus Park and South Beach across the street. With the distinctive blue letters, several hotels in the area are often photographed together to demonstrate the area's varied and vibrant color at night. For once I decided to stay at an iconic hotel. Compared to other places in the area, it was surprisingly affordable. They had several bad reviews, but I believe most of them were before new ownership and a remodel. I would love to visit again someday. For the Boulevard Hotel, it appears today to operate only as a restaurant. This building is also part of the Miami Beach Architectural District. The National Register of Historic Places nominating form notes the building is of an International Style which means it is rectilinear with expressive massing of parts but largely devoid of applied decorative details. The hotel was originally the Bolivar Hotel in 1950, but has major exterior alterations which have changed the character and details of the original design. The Starlite opened in 1952 at 750 Ocean Dr. and was designed by Master of Modernism architect Gilbert Fein. It is a prominent example of the Postwar Modem style as applied to the famous hotel row along Ocean Drive. The building was constructed on a single lot, has a raised front patio, is relatively low-scale with its four-story height and is made of concrete and stucco, like its neighbors. Fein contrasts a vertical orientation on the north with a traditional horizontal emphasis on the rest of the building. The windows are boxed, and on the north, wrap around the comer and project from the main face of the building. The smooth stucco is broken by score lines forming a grid on the north and between the boxed windows.
Route 66 Cotton Boll Motel - Canute, OK The Cotton Boll Motel along Route 66 in Canute, OK opened in 1960 but closed in 1979. I'm glad this much of the sign has survived another 45 years. The owners, Mr. & Mrs. Penick, were cotton farmers before opening this motel. There is a small logo for Seright Neon, which means it was likely created by the Seright Neon Sign Company of nearby Elk City.
Washita Motel neon sign - Canute, OK This sign for a long-closed motel in Canute, OK is located along Route 66. Washita is the name of the county this motel is in. Washita was written in neon in the top rectangle where No Vacancy was in the lower one. For those of you more familiar with neon signs, what's going on with the metal bars in front of the MOTEL part of the sign? Was it made to protect the neon tubes? Would it have been vintage or added more recently?
Santa Fe neon sign - Ft. Worth, TX This neon sign is atop the Santa Fe Freight Building near downtown Fort Worth, TX. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Fe_Freight_Building
Shop United sign - Route 66 - Elk City, OK The sign for United Supermarkets might not gather as much interest as other vintage old signs along Route 66. However, it is a decades-old neon sign missing all the tubes, and more interesting that most grocery stores I've seen. It also happens to be across from the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City. I'm guessing it's old enough to have been constructed before Route 66 was decomissioned.
Western Motel - Route 66 - Sayre, OK The Western Motel and it's intact neon sign is located on the east side of Sayre, OK. A post card from the 1960s describes the motel as "The newest and most modern motel in Sayre." Based on that, I'll say this sign is about 60 years old. There is a small logo for Seright Neon, which means it was likely created by the Seright Neon Sign Company of nearby Elk City.
Mack's Restaurant neon sign - Cairo, IL Cairo, IL is a fascinating city. A century ago, it was a thriving city at the southern end of Illinois where rivers meet. However, a large percentage of the population leaves every decade and eventually Cairo will be a ghost town. The town has fascinating and intricate architecture, but the few remaining citizens can't save everything. A few places are actively preserved, but many places are crumbling or have been torn down. Despite being located along a busy highway, US51, Mack's Restaurant is now closed. Based on Google Street View, it looks like it closed in 2014. In the days leading up to the 2024 eclipse, I heard that Cairo is now only large enough to support one restaurant which is Shemwell's Barbecue further south in town.
H3 Ranch - Fort Worth Stockyards This is a newer restaurant in the Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District. It's right at the entrance to the Stockyards, so the sign is at the intersection of Exchange Ave. and Main St. (Bus. US287). Although it's a newer sign, I like the design elements of the horseshoe and campfire. I also ate here and my wife said it was the best meal on our vacation.
West Winds Motel - Route 66 - Erick, OK This motel was originally built and operated by Floyd Pamplin in the late 1940s. The faded upper part of the neon sign features a bucking horse. It is on private property, so my view was taken from the street. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Winds_Motel The West Winds Motel is a historic motel located on old U.S. Route 66 in Erick, Oklahoma. The motel opened in the mid-1940s to serve travelers on Route 66; at the time, tourism drove Erick's economy, and the motel was one of several in the city. The motel had a typical motor court layout with two lodging buildings and an office forming a "U" shape around a central courtyard. The lodging buildings have a Mission Revival design with stucco walls and red metal roofs designed to resemble tile. The motel units have individual garage spaces in front of their entrances, a style which was common in the 1930s and 1940s but fell out of favor in later years. The motel was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 27, 2004.
King Drive-In - Russellville, AL This is the sign in front of the Drive-in movie theater along highway US43 north of Russellville, AL Honestly, the place looked like it had been closed for years, so I was surprised to see it was open in 2023. Half the screen was missing, so I wonder if they sustained storm damage. There's a wikipedia page about this place which doesn't yet reflect how it is closed. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Drive-In The King Drive-In is a historic drive-in theater located in Russellville, Alabama. It is the oldest continually operating drive-in theater in the state of Alabama. The King Drive-In began showing films in 1949 when it was originally owned by namesake A.L. King. King's son, Morgan, took over operations in 1974. Traditionally, the theater screened films throughout the summer at this time when local children and teenagers were out of school. In more recent years, the drive in has opened earlier during the Spring and also remained open into the Fall. The King Drive-In remains among the last currently operating drive-in theater in North Alabama. It has survived for more than 60 years in Franklin County, despite the additions of digital screens in Florence, Alabama, as well as the attraction of area high school football games during the fall months. It has upgraded its facilities to include the transmission of sound through FM radio, as well as an upgraded screen and projector. Currently, the King Drive-In plays a double and sometimes triple features on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Trailers for upcoming films are played in between films to give customers time for concessions or a restroom break. The location is known as a gathering point for area youths and family on summer weekend nights.
Old neon sign - Lyons, GA This old neon sign has long been missing all the neon tubes but is currently repainted with Magic City Barbers. Their building connects to Yorke Motel, and at one time the sign advertised the motel and restaurant. It is located along highway US1 on the north side of Lyons. How it would have looked: YORKE MOTEL RESTAUTANT
Cactus Inn Motel sign - Route 66 - McLean, TX On our Route 66 trip, my wife and I stayed one night at this motel, and we are glad we did. Our room had several modern amenities, although the plumbing had some issues. We could tell the owner really loves the cactus - she had all sorts of cactus trinkets around. She gave us stickers which said "I got poked at the Cactus Inn" Also, I wore a Cactus shirt. www.instagram.com/p/C8FLi0xsHa4/ This motel originally opened along Route 66 as the West Wind Motel in 1956. The original neon sign was shaped like a cactus but with the original name. Since then, the original sign moved across from the parking lot and a second neon sign was built in the first spot. Along with the name change, all of the original neon is removed, but replaced with carved letters.
Triangle Cafe neon sign - Amarillo, TX The Triangle Motel and Cafe is a vintage Route 66 stop on the east side of Amarillo. The Triangle was formed where highways US66 and US60 met, both coming from the east, but at different angles. After the airport was built nearby, that southern alignment of Route 66 was covered and realigned with US60 on the north. The motel itself was completed in 1952 with a Streamline Moderne design and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The complex included a Cafe and Gas Station. All of these businesses appear to be closed, but the cafe was probably opened more recently as a bar. So, it's not open even the sign is painted to say that
Triangle Motel neon sign - Route 66 - Amarillo, TX The Triangle Motel is a vintage Route 66 stop on the east side of Amarillo. The Triangle was formed where highways US66 and US60 met, both coming from the east, but at different angles. After the airport was built nearby, that southern alignment of Route 66 was covered and realigned with US60 on the north. When this happened, this sign in the picture also moved to the north side. The motel itself was completed in 1952 with a Streamline Moderne design and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The complex included a Cafe and Gas Station. The motel appears to be closed, although a couple of cars were parked there.
Eastridge Lanes - Route 66 - Amarillo, TX Located on E. Amarillo Blvd (Route 66) on the east side of Amarillo
Vintage Route 66 Restaurant & Truck Stop sign This vintage sign, which has been partially repainted as a Mexican Restaurant, is located along Amarillo Blvd. This road was Route 66 and modern US60 on the east side of Amarillo.
Woods Inn - Route 66 - Amarillo, TX Woods Inn is located along Amarillo Blvd. on the east side of town. This road is historically Route 66 and currently still US60. The hotel originally opened as Biltomore Courts in 1945 but today operates as apartments.
The Big Texan Steak Ranch The Big Texan is a tourist trap, but I enjoyed my visit there. This is the famous restaurant which advertises the "Free 72oz. steak." What that really means is you have to eat the whole thing, plus a salad, beak potato, shrimp and a roll within an hour at the table in the middle to get it for free. I've seen other places copy this premise, but I think they started it. They frequently advertise their spot along Route 66 in Amarillo. It is along Route 66 from the standpoint where the final alignment of Route 66 in the area was Interstate 40 before being decommissioned. It's along the I-40 service road. But it's not along the original alignment through the middle of town. The large sign of the cowboy is iconic and has been there for decades.
Circus Room sign - Amarillo, TX The Circus Room is a night club which opened in 1962 and is located along Route 66 in Amarillo. The the clown on the sign is a happy clown, the one painted on the door is a scary clown.
Arrow Motel - Route 66 - Soncy, TX Here is a vintage 1950's motel sign along Route 66 in the Soncy suburb of Amarillo. The word Arrow is at the top but the Motel part of the sign is now missing. The word Cafe was below that, but the tubes are gone and it's painted over. Originally, the whole arrow was lower to the ground with the star high above it, but the Arrow has since been raised.
Cole Batteries Convex Electric Sign Located at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati, this is a ca. 1925 Convex Electric Sign popularized by the McSavaney Co. of Springfield, OH. The interior of the sign is lit by regular light bulbs. Holes are punched into the metal and bent inward so the light would illuminate the holes. This forum post details how the sign works: mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=25950
WLAY Radio neon sign - Muscle Shoals, AL WLAY Radio AM 1450 is an influential station in developing the "Muscle Shoals Sound." The decades-old sign was refurbished in 2023 for the stations 90th Anniversary. The best I can tell, this sign features a mascot of a microphone-person (or perhaps a DJ behind a Mic) named Mike W-LAY featuring a tall hat with a 4-leaf clover. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WLAY_(AM)
Pleasant Ridge Chili Restaurant neon sign Cincinnati is known for it's unique style of chili. While this restaurant along highway US22 isn't as famous as Skyline Chili, I like their sign.
Westland Theater - Elk City, OK The 800-seat theater opened in 1950. The exterior has an Art Deco design and still has the original marquee with vertical neon sign
Missoula Drug Co. Neon Sign This neon sign is on display at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. According to their notes, this sign is from 1937 from Missoula, MT. The deco design porcelain neon sign features gilded, raised letters making it likely manufactured by Artkraft Signs of Lima, OH.
Ruby City sign A Ruby City is one of the many gem mining spots that has put Franklin, NC on the offbeat tourism map. Hello to anyone who found this here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/north-carolina/15-unique-nc-day-t... These 15 Unique Day Trips In North Carolina Are An Absolute Must-Do
Holiday Motel neon sign, Cave City, KY US31W
Cass Motel neon sign I have no idea how long this motel has been out of business. There used to be a second part of the sign to the left that had "Cass" in larger letters. The spot is where the old Dixie Highway is about to cross the newes highway US41 on the south side of Cassville, GA
Starks Parking Center neon sign Downtown Louisville, KY
Bottoms Neon Clock Sign - Bardsville, KY About a block north of the town square along US31E
Sleep in a Wigwam I had always heard about the place like this along Route 66, but didn't know that there was one near Mammoth Cave until about a week ago. Luckily we were planning to drive through here. This is just north of the center of Cave City, KY along highway U.S. 31W, which was part of the Dixie Highway way back when. www.wigwamvillage.com/
The Pioneer Restaurant - Marion, VA Along US11, the old Lee Highway
Blue Jay Motel neon sign detail What a wonderful neon sign for a motel that is still in business. The Blue Jay Motel is along US11 about 5 miles west of Salem, VA. It's probably still in business along the old highway because it is right next to an interstate exit.
Blue Jay Motel neon sign What a wonderful neon sign for a motel that is still in business. The Blue Jay Motel is along US11 about 5 miles west of Salem, VA. It's probably still in business along the old highway because it is right next to an interstate exit. Update: If you look at the comments, the sign was modernized soon after I took this picture.
Roanoke's Vintage Dr. Pepper sign at dusk This sign was placed in downtown Roanoke by the Dr. Pepper people in the 1940's. Since then, more Dr. Pepper has been sold in Roanoke than any other city east of the Mississippi River. To go along with the drink's popularity, the old fashion sign with it's illuminated bottle cap design surrounded by chaser lights has become a popular landmark lighting up the Roanoke sky. As old signs tend to do, the Dr. Pepper sign started to get worn down. In addition, a new multimillion dollar art museum was being built next door in 2005, unfortunately obstucting the view of what some would call a work of art in its own right. The sign needed to be moved and refurbished. During three months in 2005, for every case of Dr. Pepper sold in Roanoke, 8 cents went into a fund to accomplish the new goal. When $30,000 was raised work was begun. Virginia Sign Works, who was also tasked with restoring the other historic downtown Roakoke sign for H&C Coffee, refurbished the sign. A crane was brought in to move the sign to a prominent and highly visible corner, atop the Legg Mason Building. On New Years Eve in 2005, six hours before the new year would ring in, a ceremony was held for the relighting ceremony. The Mayor along with a 104 year old lifelong Dr. Pepper drinker flipped the switch for the sign which now again illuminates the skyline every night.
Roanoke's Vintage Dr. Pepper sign in the day This sign was placed in downtown Roanoke by the Dr. Pepper people in the 1940's. Since then, more Dr. Pepper has been sold in Roanoke than any other city east of the Mississippi River. To go along with the drink's popularity, the old fashion sign with it's illuminated bottle cap design surrounded by chaser lights has become a popular landmark lighting up the Roanoke sky. As old signs tend to do, the Dr. Pepper sign started to get worn down. In addition, a new multimillion dollar art museum was being built next door in 2005, unfortunately obstructing the view of what some would call a work of art in its own right. The sign needed to be moved and refurbished. During three months in 2005, for every case of Dr. Pepper sold in Roanoke, 8 cents went into a fund to accomplish the new goal. When $30,000 was raised work was begun. Virginia Sign Works, who was also tasked with restoring the other historic downtown Roanoke sign for H&C Coffee, refurbished the sign. A crane was brought in to move the sign to a prominent and highly visible corner, atop the Legg Mason Building. On New Years Eve in 2005, six hours before the new year would ring in, a ceremony was held for the relighting ceremony. The Mayor along with a 104 year old lifelong Dr. Pepper drinker flipped the switch for the sign which now again illuminates the skyline every night.
Roanoke's Vintage Dr. Pepper sign at night This sign was placed in downtown Roanoke by the Dr. Pepper people in the 1940's. Since then, more Dr. Pepper has been sold in Roanoke than any other city east of the Mississippi River. To go along with the drink's popularity, the old fashion sign with it's illuminated bottle cap design surrounded by chaser lights has become a popular landmark lighting up the Roanoke sky. As old signs tend to do, the Dr. Pepper sign started to get worn down. In addition, a new multimillion dollar art museum was being built next door in 2005, unfortunately obstucting the view of what some would call a work of art in its own right. The sign needed to be moved and refurbished. During three months in 2005, for every case of Dr. Pepper sold in Roanoke, 8 cents went into a fund to accomplish the new goal. When $30,000 was raised work was begun. Virginia Sign Works, who was also tasked with restoring the other historic downtown Roakoke sign for H&C Coffee, refurbished the sign. A crane was brought in to move the sign to a prominent and highly visible corner, atop the Legg Mason Building. On New Years Eve in 2005, six hours before the new year would ring in, a ceremony was held for the relighting ceremony. The Mayor along with a 104 year old lifelong Dr. Pepper drinker flipped the switch for the sign which now again illuminates the skyline every night.
Roanoke's Vintage Dr. Pepper sign This sign was placed in downtown Roanoke by the Dr. Pepper people in the 1940's. Since then, more Dr. Pepper has been sold in Roanoke than any other city east of the Mississippi River. To go along with the drink's popularity, the old fashion sign with it's illuminated bottle cap design surrounded by chaser lights has become a popular landmark lighting up the Roanoke sky. As old signs tend to do, the Dr. Pepper sign started to get worn down. In addition, a new multimillion dollar art museum was being built next door in 2005, unfortunately obstucting the view of what some would call a work of art in its own right. The sign needed to be moved and refurbished. During three months in 2005, for every case of Dr. Pepper sold in Roanoke, 8 cents went into a fund to accomplish the new goal. When $30,000 was raised work was begun. Virginia Sign Works, who was also tasked with restoring the other historic downtown Roakoke sign for H&C Coffee, refurbished the sign. A crane was brought in to move the sign to a prominent and highly visible corner, atop the Legg Mason Building. On New Years Eve in 2005, six hours before the new year would ring in, a ceremony was held for the relighting ceremony. The Mayor along with a 104 year old lifelong Dr. Pepper drinker flipped the switch for the sign which now again illuminates the skyline every night.
Maple Lodge - Pulaski, VA I assume this is or used to be a motel. I didn't get a great look at the place as I was driving by, I was just making sure I got a picture of the old neon sign. Seen along US11 / The Old Dixie Highway.
Melody Haven neon violin - Roanoke, VA Melody Haven is a music shop in downtoan Roanoke with this unusual vintage sign
Roanoke, VA neon Violin sign Melody Haven is a music shop in downtoan Roanoke with this unusual vintage sign
Coca-Cola Mural - Pulaski, VA 5 cents - Delicious and Refreshing - 5 cents Drink Coca-Cola - Sold Everywhere Located in the small downtown area of Pulaski, VA along a wide building and facing Peak Creek. At some point over the last few decades it has been repainted, and even that has a slight fade to it. One of the things I like about this creek as it runs through town is the old built up rock wall, and at this spot, it's practically an extension of the side of the building.
Skyline Cleaners - Salem, VA In by 9AM - Out by 4AM seen when trying to follow the old Lee Highway through SW Virginia.
Hill-Top Drive-IN - Boone, NC Located along highway US421 on the west side of town. Their website claims they are the oldest restaurant in town. Suddenly, I'm hungry for a hamburger and some ice cream.
Dogwood Lodge - near Radford, VA Along US 11 (The Old Lee Highway)
Vintage Sunbeam Bread metal sign The Sunbeam sign, as well as for R.N. Frye Grocery are in the small town of Rural Retreat, VA.
Bush Flora Shoes - Sign in downtown Roanoke, VA
Hotel neon sign - Hillsville, VA Seen along Main St. (US 52) across from the Carroll County Courthouse. The building is not a hotel anymore, but since this sign is so high up there, nobody wants to go to the trouble of getting out a ladder and going up there to take the sign down. One business in the building now is a bookstore and they had the taken-down more traditional sign up against a window, but I couldn't see the hotel's name on the sign. I tried googling to find out more, but that does no good - all the links talk about the Super8 and the like right off the interstate.
<-EAT-< at Texas Tavern - Roanoke, VA If I had been driving around downtown Roanoke close to midnight whan I was really hungry, this looks like the kind of place that would be perfect for me. This type of single-family-owned short-order restaurant dating back to 1930 has plenty of regulars. Reading the online reviews, there also appear to be several people that don't get their shtick. There's plenty of interesting things written all over the building, highlighted by the large neon EAT sign. $1.25 Hamburgers, Coney Island Hotdogs Club Breakfast Served Until 10AM $1.60 Mexican Chile, Pint $3.20 Quart $6.40 $1.10 Cold Buttermilk On the side: Texas Tavern - Roanoke's Millionaires Club Quik-Park Each 15 Minutes $3.00, Pay inside in advance (Customers Free While Eating Only) Open All Nite - Open Sundays
Mill Mountain Star - Roanoke, VA The Roanoke Star is the World's Largest freestanding illuminated man-made star, which I am sure will give everybody goosebumps just thinking about it. It was constructed in 1949 and placed atop Mill Mountain, facing towards the city, causing Roanoke to get the nickname "Star City of the South" It was placed at its location permanently in 1949 to kick off the Christmas shopping season. Once it proved to be popular, it was decided to be lit year round. At first, it was all white. Next, red was added, but only illuminated for one day to indicate a traffic fatality. As part of America's Bicentennial Celebration in 1976, the current design was created, consisting of one red outer star, two white middle stars and two inner blue stars. Sometimes, the look would go to just a red star, like a flag being displayed at half-staff, or blinking-alternating colors. To commemorate September 11, 2001, the star has since remained at this same classic red, white and blue combination (with the exception of a temporary change in memory of the Virginia Tech shooting and also for routine maintenance. Starting this Sunday, to mark the 10-year anniversary of September 11, 2001, the star will go back to being all white again, except for special occasions.
1 Hour Cleaning neon sign - downtown Roanoke, VA I have no idea if the neon still works, but I like the clock built into the sign, which points to 1pm. A modern sign in the store window says the business is a 1 day cleaner instead of 1 hour. Perhaps it still only takes on hour to professionally dry clean a suit, but it's not guaranteed to be the hour you bring it in.
Colgate Clock and Factory - Clarksville, IN With a diamater or 40 feet, this is one of the largest clocks in the world, and I first saw it about 10 years ago on a vacation to Louisville, where while the clock is across the rvier from downtown, it is easily viewable. Recently, I had a chance to visit the clock up close. The building the clock sits atop was built to be a prison in 1847. After a 1919 fire, a new prison needed to be built and Colgate-Palmolive bought the building. The clock was originally built in 1906 by Colgate engineer Warren Day and was constructed by the Seth Thomas Clock Company. At the time, the clock served a similar function at a colgate plant in Jersey City, NJ but was relocated here in 1924. (Another similar but slightly larger clock was built in it's place in NJ.) While it still keeps accurate time and the neon still lights up at night, the clock is endangered. Colgate closed the plant in 2008. (Until recently, there was a large neon "Colgate" also on the roof to the left of the clock.) The National Register of Historic Places offered to add the plant to the register and provide funds for restoration, but Colgate hopes to sell the property to another business. Hello to anyone who found this here: www.thrillist.com/entertainment/louisville/louisville-sec...
Colgate Clock at night - Clarksville, IN With a diamater or 40 feet, this is one of the largest clocks in the world, and I first saw it about 10 years ago on a vacation to Louisville, where while the clock is across the rvier from downtown, it is easily viewable. Recently, I had a chance to visit the clock up close. The building the clock sits atop was built to be a prison in 1847. After a 1919 fire, a new prison needed to be built and Colgate-Palmolive bought the building. The clock was originally built in 1906 by Colgate engineer Warren Day and was constructed by the Seth Thomas Clock Company. At the time, the clock served a similar function at a colgate plant in Jersey City, NJ but was relocated here in 1924. (Another similar but slightly larger clock was built in it's place in NJ.) While it still keeps accurate time and the neon still lights up at night, the clock is endangered. Colgate closed the plant in 2008. (Until recently, there was a large neon "Colgate" also on the roof to the left of the clock.) The National Register of Historic Places offered to add the plant to the register and provide funds for restoration, but Colgate hopes to sell the property to another business.
Colgate Clock in the day- Clarksville, IN With a diamater or 40 feet, this is one of the largest clocks in the world, and I first saw it about 10 years ago on a vacation to Louisville, where while the clock is across the rvier from downtown, it is easily viewable. Recently, I had a chance to visit the clock up close. The building the clock sits atop was built to be a prison in 1847. After a 1919 fire, a new prison needed to be built and Colgate-Palmolive bought the building. The clock was originally built in 1906 by Colgate engineer Warren Day and was constructed by the Seth Thomas Clock Company. At the time, the clock served a similar function at a colgate plant in Jersey City, NJ but was relocated here in 1924. (Another similar but slightly larger clock was built in it's place in NJ.) While it still keeps accurate time and the neon still lights up at night, the clock is endangered. Colgate closed the plant in 2008. (Until recently, there was a large neon "Colgate" also on the roof to the left of the clock.) The National Register of Historic Places offered to add the plant to the register and provide funds for restoration, but Colgate hopes to sell the property to another business.
Speier Hardware Neon Sign - Louisville, KY Seen along Barret Ave.
Smith Floral Co. Neon Sing - Bristol, VA
Dairy "Yum Yum" of Ripley, OH along US52/62/68 This picture made explore, Peaking at #180!
Pancake House Restaurant neon sign - Roanoke, VA As I drove southwest out of Roanoke, I attempted to follow the original route of Dixie Highway / US11 when I saw this sign. If you look closely at the breakfast items, they must have blown up a photo and cut around the edges, pasting it onto the sign.
H&C Coffee Cup neon sign - Roanoke, VA This fantastic neon sign is in Downtown Roanoke, VA. A special plaque has been placed, not at the base of the building, but from a spot where the sign is easily viewable: The restoration and relighting of the H&C Coffee sign was a community effort funded through the generosity of the citizens of the Roanoke Valley and beyond. A Special tribute goes to Mark Jamison - "The Neon Man." H&C Coffee company started in Roanoke in 1927, with the sign and local landmark erected in 1946. After nonfunctioning for a decade, the restoration was done in 2005 when the sign was also moved to a better location with the higher roof of the new art museum. The sign is animated with neon and the scene cycles every 7 seconds. Breifly, everything is off. Then H&C COFFEE lights up (With the H& not working too well right now). Then, The Coffee pot lights up. Next, the the empty coffee cup, saucer and spoon come on. Finally, a stream of coffee altternates between upper and lower as if it looks like it is being poured and cup is full of neon coffee! It's a wonderful sign which definately fits in the categoy of they don't make 'em like they used to.
H&C Coffee Pot neon sign - Roanoke, VA This fantastic neon sign is in Downtown Roanoke, VA. A special plaque has been placed, not at the base of the building, but from a spot where the sign is easily viewable: The restoration and relighting of the H&C Coffee sign was a community effort funded through the generosity of the citizens of the Roanoke Valley and beyond. A Special tribute goes to Mark Jamison - "The Neon Man." H&C Coffee company started in Roanoke in 1927, with the sign and local landmark erected in 1946. After nonfunctioning for a decade, the restoration was done in 2005 when the sign was also moved to a better location with the higher roof of the new art museum. The sign is animated with neon and the scene cycles every 7 seconds. Breifly, everything is off. Then H&C COFFEE lights up (With the H& not working too well right now). Then, The Coffee pot lights up. Next, the the empty coffee cup, saucer and spoon come on. Finally, a stream of coffee altternates between upper and lower as if it looks like it is being poured and cup is full of neon coffee! It's a wonderful sign which definately fits in the categoy of they don't make 'em like they used to.
H&C Coffee neon sign daytime - Roanoke, VA This fantastic neon sign is in Downtown Roanoke, VA. A special plaque has been placed, not at the base of the building, but from a spot where the sign is easily viewable: The restoration and relighting of the H&C Coffee sign was a community effort funded through the generosity of the citizens of the Roanoke Valley and beyond. A Special tribute goes to Mark Jamison - "The Neon Man." H&C Coffee company started in Roanoke in 1927, with the sign and local landmark erected in 1946. After nonfunctioning for a decade, the restoration was done in 2005 when the sign was also moved to a better location with the higher roof of the new art museum. The sign is animated with neon and the scene cycles every 7 seconds. Breifly, everything is off. Then H&C COFFEE lights up (With the H& not working too well right now). Then, The Coffee pot lights up. Next, the the empty coffee cup, saucer and spoon come on. Finally, a stream of coffee altternates between upper and lower as if it looks like it is being poured and cup is full of neon coffee! It's a wonderful sign which definately fits in the categoy of they don't make 'em like they used to.
H&C Coffee neon sign - Roanoke, VA This fantastic neon sign is in Downtown Roanoke, VA. A special plaque has been placed, not at the base of the building, but from a spot where the sign is easily viewable: The restoration and relighting of the H&C Coffee sign was a community effort funded through the generosity of the citizens of the Roanoke Valley and beyond. A Special tribute goes to Mark Jamison - "The Neon Man." H&C Coffee company started in Roanoke in 1927, with the sign and local landmark erected in 1946. After nonfunctioning for a decade, the restoration was done in 2005 when the sign was also moved to a better location with the higher roof of the new art museum. The sign is animated with neon and the scene cycles every 7 seconds. Breifly, everything is off. Then H&C COFFEE lights up (With the H& not working too well right now). Then, The Coffee pot lights up. Next, the the empty coffee cup, saucer and spoon come on. Finally, a stream of coffee altternates between upper and lower as if it looks like it is being poured and cup is full of neon coffee! It's a wonderful sign which definately fits in the categoy of they don't make 'em like they used to.
H&C Coffee neon sign - Roanoke, VA This fantastic neon sign is in Downtown Roanoke, VA. A special plaque has been placed, not at the base of the building, but from a spot where the sign is easily viewable: The restoration and relighting of the H&C Coffee sign was a community effort funded through the generosity of the citizens of the Roanoke Valley and beyond. A Special tribute goes to Mark Jamison - "The Neon Man." H&C Coffee company started in Roanoke in 1927, with the sign and local landmark erected in 1946. After nonfunctioning for a decade, the restoration was done in 2005 when the sign was also moved to a better location with the higher roof of the new art museum. The sign is animated with neon and the scene cycles every 7 seconds. Breifly, everything is off. Then H&C COFFEE lights up (With the H& not working too well right now). Then, The Coffee pot lights up. Next, the the empty coffee cup, saucer and spoon come on. Finally, a stream of coffee altternates between upper and lower as if it looks like it is being poured and cup is full of neon coffee! It's a wonderful sign which definately fits in the categoy of they don't make 'em like they used to. Here's a video of the sign: www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/6510068951/in/photo...
Prescriptions This old neon sign is seen on E. Washington St. leading away from the Glasgow, KY town square. With a sign like that, I'm assuming this building used to be a pharmacy, but there were no other markings of what business inhabits the building today.
Counts Drug Store Neon Sign #2 - Wytheville, VA Located at the most important intersection in the heart of town, Counts Drugs has a neon sign facing both streets. This one is easily visible for those driving on 4th St.
Counts Drug Store Neon Sign #1- Wytheville, VA Located at the most important intersection in the heart of town, Counts Drugs has a neon sign facing both streets. This one is easily visible for those driving on Main St. Between the two, I like this one a little more with the typefaces used for the neon.
Combination of wall ads - Radford, VA In downtown Radford, there are two spots with vintage murals. First is this spot between two buildings. The other one is quicker to find since it faces the parking lot for the farmers market. The ad on the left has several things going on. Starting at the bottom is an ad for Wine of Cardui for Women. Cardui was made by the Chattanooga Medicine Company. One bottle was 9 ounces, and it was 19% alcohol, so I'm sure it numbed whatever pains a woman was struggling with. Above that appears to be two different versions for R.S. Carson, the Prescription Druggist. The ad on the right is for Cubanola, which calls itself the All Havana Filler 5 cent cigar. There is also a Cubanola ad at the other mural
The Dr. Pepper sign and the H&C Coffee Sign These two gems of vintage signs are on adjacent buildings facing the same way in downtown Roanoke, VA. I go into much greater detail about the signs if you check the links below...
Larry's Liquors neon sign - Lousville, KY
Riverside neon sign This old neon sign was seen at a gas station called the Riverside Quickette. Riverside is an unincorporated community on the southwest side of Roanoke County, VA. US11 (and before that, the old Lee Highway) runs by this store. I don't know if the sign dates back to the 1920's like the Lee Highway, but it does look rather old.
Motel & Restaurant neon sign This neon sign is located in rural Smyth County at the north end. It's located on US11, which is also the old Dixie Highway, the route that many people took to go towards Washington DC before I-81 paralleled it. With a sign like that, it was probably a mom & pop motel at one time, and the word Village is painted along the bottom of the sign. With the creation of the interstates, many of the mom and pop motels vanished unless they were fortunate enough to be right at an interstate exit, where new chain motels sprang up. This is pretty close to exit 54. Google maps now says this is a Relax Inn. The mom & pop motel may have joined onto a chain just to stay open. On the day I drove through, I very well could have missed this, however there was road construction on the bridge right next to this and while I was waiting for my chance to drive on, I noticed I was right next to it.
Historic Pensacola Beach Neon Sign For many years, a colorful swordfish has pointed motorists the way to the beach. The original sign, which dates to the 60's, has been restored and is on display behind Flounders Chowder House. Another similar sign is in the original location.
Carmichael Wholesale neon sign seen in downtown Dothan, AL
Hayes Furniture neon sign Seen along State St. in Bristol, VA
Bottle Stopper neon sign - Panama City, FL This neon sign for a liquor store was seen along E. 5th St. (Old US 98).
Faded neon sign - Roanoke, VA It's a combination of rusty and peeling paint that makes it nearly impossible to read. At the very top, I can make out Roanoke and the bottom, I can read COMPANY painted in blue. The sign painted on the side of the building was for Southern Paper Company. It's located on the 500 block of Salem Ave. SW.
Faded neon sign - Fort Payne, AL Seen along US11 right in the center of town. The faded paint is almost, but not quite, legible.
Dip Dog neon sign - Marion, VA This old fashioned ice cream stand was seen along US11, the old Lee Highway, on the west side of Marion, VA.
Ryan Piano Co. sign - Florence, AL Probably was a neon sign at one time.
Hotel Roanoke neon sign Hotel Roanoke is the exquisite hotel up the hill from the nearby passenger station, and had ties with Norfolk and Western for over a century. You don't really think of the Grand hotels having neon signs, but this one does over the sidewalk entrance that leads to the N&W station.
old Jacks neon sign - Ft. Payne, AL Jack's is a fast food restaurant chain in and around Alabama. This sign was made at some point in the late 60s or early 70s. There are five diamonds and each one was a letter of JACKS. Below that was the word Hamburgers. This particular store on US11 was either closed or relocated. Today, this particular spot has become a Mexican food place as it spells FOND on this side (and FONDA on the other.) The S in JACKS is easy to see since it hasn't been painted over, but if you look closely, you can see evidence ofthe previous letters on the other diamonds.
Cajun's Seafood neon sign - Sheffield, AL The signs are biting today!
Star Motel - Cave City, KY Along U.S. Highway 31W
Stuart C. Irby Co. Electrical Supplies This neon sign is along State St. in downtown Jackson, MS
Pine Lake Motel Seen along US82/231 just south of Montgomery, AL.
People's Cafe - Jackson, MS Located along Capitol St. in downtown Jackson
Bee-Line Motel - Dothan, AL Not only is this motel with an old fashioned sign just a couple of blocks from the center of town, it is also located along Business US231, which is along the route to Panama City for a lot of people
Planet Pepsi This large rotating globe-shaped sign is in a vacant lot at the corner of Birmingham St. and Ashe Blvd in Sheffield, AL
Lott Furniture Co. neon sign Seen in downtown Jackson, MS
Ritz Theater Sign and Marquee - Sheffield, AL The Ritz Theater dates back to 1927 back as a silent movie theater. It was redesigned in an Art Deco theme in the 1930 to accommodate films with sound. In 1985, the theater was purchased by the Tennessee Valley Art Association who restored the theater back to its Art Deco look. The neon sign is a replica of the original and was added in 2009.
Werner's Footwork neon sign - Cullman, AL Seen along US31 along the old commercial district in Cullman
Lovelace Drugs neon sign - Ocean Springs, MS Sadly, at the time I didn't notice neon sign for the ice cream in the background.
Dog Days of Birmingham neon sign
Nu-Way Dry Cleaning neon sign - Forest, MS
Bonner neon sign - Tuscumbia, AL
John's This neon sign is in downtown Birmingham, AL
Mayflower Cafe Seen along Capitol St. in Downtown Jackson, MS. Based on what I see here, I'm guessing that for years, the owners have taken peide in the look of the entrance to their restaurant, but haven't been able to keep it up as well lately. There is some great tile work around the front door
Ridout's Valley Chapel Funeral Home neon sign I'm sure they're a nice place, but the name seems a little unfortunate to be a funeral home, as if they were a bug spray. Located in the Homewood subrub of Birmingham.
Dari Delite Drive-in Neon Sign Seen along US31 in Hartselle, AL at the crack of dawn.
The Hours Passed - The Picture Stayed In the "They Don't Make Them like they used to" category, I submit this vintage and restored wall mural for a Television manufacturer seen in downtown Birmingham. "The Hours Passed - The Picture Stayed" By that line, I guess that other TVs got fuzzy the longer you left them on. The next thing I noticed about this mural is everyone is depicted wearing their nice formal wear. I suppose that having the chance to watch one of those newfangled moving pictures in the comfort of your own home was worth dressing up for. Then, you invite your neighbors and serve wine.
Sparks - Terrell Hardware - Lexington, KY At the time I took this photo, I didn't even notice the neon hammer, saw, etc. that is on the side of the Hardware part of the sign. Based on the looks of the building, the hardware store is long gone, but the sign still remains. This is located on US25 (Newtown Pk. near the intersection of Georgetown Rd.)
Ezell's Fish Camp sign - Birmingham, AL
The Chat-N-Chew Drive-In This vintage neon sign for a drive-in is located in the Petersville suburb of Florence, AL along Cloverdale Rd.
Red Hot Truck Stop sign - Meridian, MS The Truck Stop went out of musiness several years ago, and the building was torn down, but the old sign was left standing. Not only is the sign held up by a lot of rusty scaffolding but a small portion of the brick wall remains. It is seen from Interstate 20/59 between exits 153 and 154. Someone made a tribute website to Red Hot. See it here: redhottruckstop.tripod.com/index.htm
City of Tuscumbia Department of Untilities I don't know whether to call this a neon sign or a billboard, but for now I'm calling it a neon billboard. The neon here shows a natural gas flame, a water faucet, and a hand that gives off lightning bolts. (the latter is a utility that my local company does not offer, sadly.)
Starlite Drive-in Sign - Christiansburg, VA This sign is along US11 (or the old Lee Highway) on the north side of town and it points to the drive in which is a block away.
Claudia Sanders Dinner House neon sign Did you know that Claudia Sanders, the wife of Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Col. Harland Sanders, also ran a restaurant? Now, before you go and assume that there was some family battle or oneupmanship going on, The Colonel actually had his offices here in the earliest days of KFC. At the time, they lived in the home next door. The actual restaurant burned down in 1999 and was rebuilt a year later but I'm going to assume the neon sign is vintage. The restaurant and the sign are located on US60 in Shelbyville, KY Hello to anyone who found this here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/kentucky/unique-restaurants-ky/ These 11 Unique Restaurants In Kentucky Will Give You An Unforgettable Dining Experience 1. Claudia Sanders Dinner House This Shelbyville place is all about tradition. After all, Kentucky is the state that put fried chicken on the map. Visit a restaurant that still remains true to its roots. It's southern charm and portions-a-plenty will keep you coming back.
Glyndon Hotel - Richmond, KY This is the neon sign for the Richmond landmark located along US25. Seen at dusk. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glyndon_Hotel
Oscar's Hardware neon sign Located along US60 on the East side of Louisville
Atlanta Biltmore Hotel Neon Sign Radio Mast at dusk Located in Midtown Atlanta is the 11-story Biltmore Hotel which opened in 1924. The most distinguishing faeture is the two towering radio masts, one on each end of the building, with vertical illuminated letters that spell out "BILTMORE". The top floor and radio masts broadcasted WSB-AM from 1925 until 1956. The hotel closed in 1981 and after sitting vacant for nearly a decade the interior was gutted and converted into office space. Even still, it's good to see the tower still standing and working.
Economy Inn neon sign - Cullman, AL Seen along US31 in Cullman. "Be our Guest!"
Cincinnati From Above #7: PNC Bank Building Sign For those of us that have a greater love of photography than a fear of heights, there is a popular observation deck in downtown Cincinnati. Carew Tower is a 49 story, 574-foot skyscraper that was the tallest in town until 2010. For a couple of dollars, visitors can take an elevator up to about the 47th floor, then walk to anotehr elevator which goes the last part of the way where you can walk around the roof. From here, on a clear day you can see for miles. This series of 20 photos was taken in 2007 back when my camera had a 10X optical zoom. This is the really large neon sign seen on top of another of the city's historic skyscrapers.
Oliver & Oliver Law Offices neon sign - Berea, KY Seen along US25 in Berea
Candlelight Motel - Ozark, AL Seen along US231
Griggs Motel neon sign - Richmond, Ky The motel located along US25 on the north side of Richmond appears to still be open.
Pine Bowl sign - Fultondale, AL Seen along US31 north of Birmingham
Cajun's Seafood neon sign - Sheffield, AL In The Shoals, this restauraunt is located along the busy Lee Highway (US43/72) just south of where it crosses the Tennessee River
M.A. Selbert Jeweler - Frankfort, KY This vintage storefront and neon sign clock is located in the heart of Frankfort's business district. They appear to still be in business.
Louisville and Nashville Railroad Office Building Neon Sign The Louisville and Nashville Railroad Office Building is an historic building located in downtown Louisville, KY where it was once the headquarters of the important area railroad. The structure is eleven stories tall. The first three stories are made of stonework of rusticated ashlar, with capital-topped pilasters in a series. Floors four to ten have ashlar pilasters framing a finish of red brick. Windows of the building are done in series of three. The attic is 1.5 stories tall, and features the distinctive initials of L&N. It was designed by W. H. Courtenay, the chief architect of the Railroad, in a Beaux Arts style; one of the largest commercial buildings in that architectural style still standing. The original Louisville and Nashville Railroad offices in Louisville were at Second and Main in Louisville, by the entrance of present-day George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge. By 1890, it had become obvious that the building was too overcrowded. It was decided that the office building should be located next to Louisville's Union Station. Construction began in 1902, but its completion was delayed until January 1907, due to difficulties with organized labor in a 1905 steel workers strike. Its total cost was $650,000. It was large enough that after decades of separation, all of the main administrative staff could be in the same building. In the 1970s, about 2,000 L&N employees worked in the building. After L&N was purchased by CSX nearly all of the jobs were moved from Louisville to Jacksonville, Florida, in 1980. In 1984, the state of Kentucky spent $15 million to purchase and renovate the property, retaining the L&N name and neon lights on its upper stories.
Penny Dog Food sign - Birmingham, AL Birmingham Hide & Tallow Corportate headquarters. The sign dates back to the 1950s and the tail and eyes used to move. This sign is located along 1st Ave N just east of downtown (also along US11). Hello to anyone who found this here: t37.net/the-lament-of-the-self-dogfooding-guy.html THE LAMENT OF THE SELF DOGFOODING GUY
Moore's Point Whiskey - Frankfort, KY Seen along US60 on the east side of town.
The Elite Shop neon sign - Tuscumbia, AL
The Pipe Corner of the South Neon Sign - Atlanta One of my favorite vintage neon signs I've ever seen was placed by the Royal Cigar Company in downtown Atlanta. It's located at the corner of Forsyth St. and Walton St. at a place now called the Forsyth-Walton Building. Apparently, the Pipe store closed in the early 1990s. When it was working, the neon tubes represented smoke rings rising from the end of the pipe. The day I took this photo, I saw the same sign on TV! It was the day after Thanksgiving and I was visiting my brother's family in GA. We started a family tradition by watching a Walking Dead marathon. In the very first episode when Rick goes into downtown Atlanta, he goes through this intersection while chased by zombies.
Q107 Neon Billboard - Sheffield, AL
House of Rossoff Drapery Neon Sign - Bristol, VA Just a couple of blocks from State St. and the state line, this company appears to still be in business.
Fix Play Displays neon sign Mannequins - Forms - Racks - Decoratives This old neon sign is located in downtown Birmingham
Fire Station neon sign - Tuscumbia, AL
Dari-Delite neon sign - Clanton, AL This is one of my not-so-good photos, yet it's a photo of an old neon sign that might not be around too much longer so I decided to upload it. This is at their older location near the central business district of Clanton, but a couple of years ago, they moved just up the road to Thorsby but didn't take their old sign with a top hat wearing rooster with them.
Parkette Drive In - Lexington, KY This fast food drive-in Restaurant with the fabulous sign is located in Lexington, KY. The restaurant and the sign both apparently date back to 1951. It's located on New Circle Rd. (US25/421), which goes to show how old the New Circle Rd. is. The arrows and the row of cars along the top are chaser lights. Perhaps the most popular feature of the sign is the neon carhop. Some of the lights have burned out, but the car hop is supposed to be holding a neon tray of food. When you pull up to a parking space, you order by talking into an old fashioned metal speaker, which also probably dates back to the 50's. People wax nostalgic about the good old days, but i'm glad speaker and microphone technology has improved in the last half century. Still I was able to order the Big Lex Burger and Funnel Cake Fries, which were both quite enjoyable.
The Pensacola Beach sign For many years, a sign has been at this location pointing vacationers in the direction of the popular Florida destination. The sign is located along US98 in Gulf Breeze, FL and the swordfish is pointing toward the right to let motorists know this is the ramp to take. It used to be a nicer neon swordfish. I wish I could have also seen it at night when the swordfish is illuminated. In the middle part, the yellow asterisk shaped section starts to light up in the middle until it reaches all the way to the outside when the Pensacola Beach starts to twinkle. (The TURN HERE stays lit the whole time.) The bottom segment says Scenic drive along Gulf of Mexico and World's Whitest Beaches, with chaser lights forming and arrow also pointing to the right. The sign is also a bad place for a power line.
Chunky Shoals Fish Camp This neon sign is for a restaurant along highway US80 in Chunky, MS. At night, the neon around the catfish turns green.
