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Welcome Arch Signs (page 3)

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It's the Climate
Grants Pass, OR
The It's the Climate was preceded in the early 1900s by some short-lived versions which read "Orchards Vineyards - Josephine County Oregon," "Mines Timber," and "Finest Climate." When John Hampshire moved to town in 1917, he came up with "It's the Climate" slogan based on the city's mild winters with little snow and dry summers with cool evenings. He promoted the slogan to the city and even donated the sign in 1920. It was built by the Novelty Electric Sign Company. The sign was strung over Sixth Street with wire. The letters were originally backlit opal glass. The sign may have been painted green originally with red letters. The two torch panels at the sides continue to have internally lit globes on top. The two pennant panels at the top were not part of the original design. They had been added by 1931. In 1941, the sign was moved to a nearby park. It was neglected and disappeared in 1958. This replica sign was built in 1976 and installed the following year at the original location. The glass letters were replaced with backlit plastic versions. In 2007, the panels were refurbished and the electronics were replaced. In 2017, city councilors were considering adding "Welcome to Grants Pass - Established 1887" panels to the top of the sign. However, nothing had changed by the sign's centennial in 2020. For more, see this website. [map]

Welcome sign
North Bend, OR
This Welcome sign was installed in 1936. It reads "Come Back to North Bend" on the other side. It originally read "Entering North Bend" on one side and "Come Again" on the other. The original sign had white neon. The sign was rebuilt in 1990 and again in 2011. The current sign cost about $50,000 and has red neon. The photo above is from 2015. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

More Oregon:
Welcome Arch (Bandon)
Welcome sign (Granite)
Welcome signs (Lakeview)

South Dakota:
Welcome Arch (Ipswich)

Tennessee/Virginia:
Bristol Slogan Sign (Bristol)

Welcome Arch
Brigham City, UT
This Welcome Arch was built by YESCO in 1928. The arch spanning the street is 66 feet wide while the sign panels are 33 feet wide. It was the largest sign in Utah at the time. The "Welcome to" letters were originally made of backlit opal glass and "Brigham" was lit with bulbs. The wording was slightly different with "Game Bird Sanctuary" instead of "Wild Bird Refuge". The other letters were lit with neon. A replica of the sign was installed in 1984. The same colors and wording were used. [map]

Welcome Arch
Ogden, UT
This Welcome Arch, usually referred to as the "Ogden River Bridge Sign," was built in 1936 by YESCO. The sign has always been lit with white neon. The wording on the sign has changed a little over the years. Originally, it read "It Pays to Live in - Ogden - America's Fastest Growing City." On the other side, it read "We Welcome You to - Ogden - Pioneer Days Week, July 24." In 1939, the text on the right read "Utah's Fastest Growing City." In the 1950s, that text became "Home of Weber College" and, later, "Home of Weber State College." In 1992, the sign was moved 30 feet to the north and the text was changed to "Home of Weber State University." For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Washington:
Welcome sign (Goldendale)
Welcome Arch (Long Beach)
Welcome sign (Ritzville)

Wisconsin:
Welcome sign (Beaver Dam)

Wyoming:
Elkhorn Arch (Afton)
Rock Springs Coal Arch (Rock Springs) [map]

Canada:
Welcome sign (Fort Frances, ON) [vintage; gone]
Welcome Arch: 1, 2, 3 (Port Arthur, ON) [vintage; gone]
Welcome sign (White River, ON)

BOOK: Arch Rivals, 90 Years of Welcome Arches in Small-Town America, Bernard C. Winn, 1993, Incline Press.

Welcome Arch Signs
page 1		 Welcome Arch Signs
page 2		 Main SCA Article
Companion Page		 Main Signs Page