Signs of the Time: Why We Spend Big Bucks to Save Old Ads

Metro Sign and Awning’s insight:

Signs have long been important landmarks for cities – iconic memorabilia that play a role in a city’s history. Though times change and technology improves, we still find ourselves wanting to save the old instead of starting again with something new. This article documents these ideas with examples from Minneapolis, and the history of its iconic city signs.

Metro Sign & Awning's Insight
“The soul of a city lies in its history, and this piece of neon memorabilia we’re going to light tonight helps bring back a part of that history.”Those were the words of then-Minneapolis Mayor Don Fraser right before he threw the switch that lit the iconic Grain Belt Beer sign on Nicollet Island in 1989.