email: roadarch@outlook.com

Nebraska Signs

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Ainsworth Signs:
Big John's Cafe [map]

Alma Signs:
Arrow Lodge [gone]

Beatrice Signs:
Poling Drugs [map]
Wilcox Cleaners

Friend Signs:
Welcome sign

Offutt Motor Court
Bellevue, NE		 Lake Sunset
Motel
Fremont, NE		 Karl's Jewelry [gone]
Fremont, NE
The Offutt Motor Court is located near the Offutt Air Force Base. This sign appears to be from the 1950s. The neon was still there in 2015. However, by 2018, the neon had been replaced with backlit plastic. [map]

The Lake Sunset Motel sign is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. The motel looked like it had been closed for many years when this photo was taken in 2008. In 2014, the motel was demolished. This sign was still there in 2018. [map]

The Karl's Jewelry sign appears to be an adapted Elgin Watches sign from the 1940s or 1950s. There store was vacant when these photos were taken in 2008. In 2012, the building housed the La Tapatia Special Events Supply Center but this neon sign was still there. The letters on the building had been changed. By 2015, the neon sign was gone and the building was vacant.

Chadron Signs:
77 Longbranch Saloon [map]
ABC Electric [map]

Fairbury Signs:
American Legion [map]
Capri Motel [map]
Masonic Temple [map]

Fairmont Signs:
Food [map]

Franklin Signs:
Hotel Lincoln [map]

More Fremont Signs:
Modern-Aire Motel [vintage; gone]
Quality Dry Cleaners
Sampter's

Fullerton Signs:
J&L Steak House & Tavern [map]

Gering Signs:
Arena Bowl [map]
Ford signs
Gering Bakery [map]

Super Bowl
Grand Island, NE		 Coney Island Lunch Room
Grand Island, NE		 Barrel Bar Lounge
Hastings, NE		 W.G. Pauley Lumber Co.
Hastings, NE
The Super Bowl sign is probably from the 1960s. [map]

The Coney Island Lunch Room has been here since 1933. This sign is probably from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

This photo of the Barrel Bar Lounge sign is from 2006. By 2010, the sign panels had either been replaced or repainted. There is also a plastic panel on top of the sign, apparently to protect it from snow and hail. [map]

The W.G. Pauley Lumber Co. has been around since at least the 1950s. [map]

More Grand Island Signs:
Bartenbach's
Big John Restaurant [vintage; gone]
Grand Island Federation of Labor Temple [map]
Lazy V Motel [gone]
Skate Island

More Hastings Signs:
Keith's Drugs [map]

Hickman Signs:
Jack & Jill Food Center [map]

Imperial Signs:
Hotel Imperial [map]

Jackson Signs:
The Lariat [vintage; gone]

Central Auto Electric
Kearney, NE
Central Auto Electric was originally Bierman's Auto Electric. The building and signage appear to be from the 1940s. The "United Motors Service" and "Carbureter Repairs" signs were mass-produced. The latter signs also were sold with an alternate spelling of "Carburetor." Only a few of both signs are still on public display. [map]

Hammer Motel
Kearney, NE		 Hollingsworth
Motel
Lexington, NE
The Hammer Motel was built in 1947 demolished in 1995. The sign is believed to have been destroyed. In 2011, this smaller, replica sign was created and installed at the Great Platte River Road Archway. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

The Hollingsworth Motel sign is faded but the business was still open in 2006. [map]

More Kearney Signs:
Rodeo Court [map]

Kimball Signs:
Kim Bowl [map]

More Lexington Signs:
Barmore Drugs [map]
FOE [map]

Bob Stephens
and Associates
Lincoln, NE		 Arnold's Tavern
Lincoln, NE		 Ace Rent
to Own Furniture
Lincoln, NE		 Anderson
Portraits
Lincoln, NE
Bob Stephens and Associates has been around since the 1950s. This sign might be from the 1960s. [map]

The neon on the Arnold's Tavern sign flashes alternatively between "Beer" and "Liquor". [map]

Ace Rent to Own Furniture has several locations in and around Lincoln. I don't know if any of the others have this style sign. The top part looks like it revolved at one time. [map]

Anderson Portraits is gone but this sign remains. It is now partially covered by the "slipcover" that was added to the building probably sometime in the 1950s or 1960s. [map]

Tastee
Inn & Out [gone]
Lincoln, NE		 N Street Drive-in [gone]
Lincoln, NE		 Colin Electric Motor Service
Lincoln, NE

This Tastee Inn & Out opened in 1948 and closed in 2013. In 2016, the building was demolished. The sign was removed and put in storage. Initially, there were plans to put the sign on the building that would be built on the site. However, the sign was donated to the Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, NE. It will eventually be restored and displayed there. There is another location in Sioux City, IA which opened in 1955 and is still in business. That location has a similar sign. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The N Street Drive-in sign featured a bulb-pouring bottle. This photo is from 2009. By 2012, the liquor store had relocated and this sign was gone.

The Colin Electric Motor Service sign was built in 1947. When it was moved in 1956, more neon tubing was added. The sign was moved to its current location in 1974. The sign was refurbished in 2012. [map]

More Lincoln Signs:
Nelson Cleaners [map]
Q.P. Store [gone]

Sutton's Jewelers
McCook, NE		 F.O.E.
Nebraska City, NE		 Fort Cody Trading Post
North Platte, NE
Sutton's Jewelers opened in 1899. This clock sign was built in 1908 and operated until 1973. The sign attached to the upper part of the sign is probably from the 1920s or 1930s and most likely had neon. The clock sign is now installed in front of the Carnegie Library. It was restored in 2005. For more, see this website. [map]

This Fraternal Order of Eagles sign is probably unique. I have never seen another one like it. [map]

This 30 foot tall sign of Buffalo Bill Cody stands in front of the Fort Cody Trading Post tourist attraction. The Trading Post was founded in 1963 and moved to this location in 1968. There is also an Giant Indian statue here. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

More McCook Signs:
Klein's Motor Electric
Sun Motor Court [gone]

Milligan Signs:
Frigidaire [gone]

Minden Signs:
City Cafe [gone]
Pioneer Motel [vintage; gone]

Neligh Signs:
Gibson Appliances

Norfolk Signs:
5th Street Tavern [map]
Hotel Elkhorn [map]
Norfolk Hatchery [gone]
Office Bar [map]

Pioneer Motel [gone]
North Platte, NE		 Cedar Lodge Motel
North Platte, NE		 Western Motel
North Platte, NE
This photo of the Pioneer Motel is from 2006. By 2008, the motel had been demolished and the sign was gone.

The Cedar Lodge Motel and the Western Motel signs were probably built in the 1950s. For more, see this website. [Cedar Lodge map]; [Western Motel map]

Hotel Pawnee
North Platte, NE		 Swan's Furniture
North Platte, NE
Hotel Pawnee was built in 1929 as the Hotel Yancey. There were different signs then: a rooftop sign and a tall blade sign. It was renamed the Hotel Pawnee in 1933. This sign may have been installed then. In 2019, it was announced that the building was going to be restored. The sign may be restored as well. [map]

Swan's Furniture was founded in Kearney, NE in 1936. In 1955, the company expanded to five locations including this one. The neon sign is probably from then. In 1995, the North Platte store moved to this location. The sign was probably brought along from the previous location. The lower part of the sign appears to be later - possibly from the 1960s. [map]

More North Platte Signs:
Bar-X Motel [vintage; gone]

Front Street
Ogallala, NE		 Cornhusker Lanes
Ogallala, NE		 Hoke's Bar
Ogallala, NE		 Ole's Big Game Bar
Paxton, NE		 Sportsman
Inn Motel
Scottsbluff, NE
Front Street is a tourist attraction with Old West-themed businesses. It opened in 1963 and this sign may be from then. [map]

The Cornhusker Lanes sign is probably from the 1960s. [map]

Hoke's Cafe was probably built in the 1940s. This sign is not the original. It is probably from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

Ole's Big Game Bar opened in 1933. This sign appears to be from the 1940s or 1950s. The place is now known as Ole’s Steakhouse and Lounge. For more, see refurbished in 2010. This photo is from 2012. For more, see this website. [map]

The Sportsman Inn Motel sign appears to be from the 1960s. It may have gone by another name originally. [map]

More Scottsbluff Signs:
Bible Book Shop
Holland Bakery [vintage; gone]
Independent Plumbing
Sportsman Inn Motel
Western Trail Sports Post

Brandin' Iron Bar
Sidney, NE		 Dude's Steak House
Sidney, NE		 Wilson & Tobin Drug Store
Sidney, NE
The Brandin' Iron Bar and Dude's Steak House share the same building. Dude's Steak House opened in 1954. These signs are probably from the 1950s. [map]

When the Wilson & Tobin Drug Store closed around 2011, these two signs were removed and moved to the new Western Drug store. The signs are probably from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

Stuart Signs:
OK Used Cars [map]

Tecumseh Signs:
Wolken's Appliances [map]

Thedford Signs:
Arrow Cafe [map]

Soo Paw Motel
Trenton, NE
The Soo-Paw Motel sign is probably from the 1950s. The sign originally had neon. It was removed in 2019 after a hail storm. It's being repainted and will be reinstalled. [map]

Valentine Signs:
Derby Bar

Wigwam Cafe
Wahoo, NE		 O.K. Market [gone]
Wahoo, NE		 Cliff House Motel
& Restaurant
Wahoo, NE		 York Theatre
York, NE
The Wigwam Cafe has been around since the 1930s. [map]

The O.K. Market had been a meat market since 1926. This photo is from 2009. By 2014, the store had closed and the sign was removed.

The Cliff House Motel & Restaurant sign is probably from the 1960s. [map]

The York Theatre sign was built in 1928 and this sign is from then. The theatre closed and was converted into retail space in 1956. The sign was moved to the York County Fairgrounds where it is used as the city's welcome sign. The sign was refurbished in 2010. This photo is from 2012. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

More Nebraska Signs:
Rexall Drug Stores (various cities)

Omaha Signs Main Signs Page