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email: roadarch@outlook.com |
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| Seattle Signs (page 2) |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| Rainier Brewery Seattle, WA |
State Hotel Seattle, WA |
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This sign was installed on top of the Rainier Brewery in the 1950s. In 2000, the sign was removed and replaced with a "T" sign when the building was leased to Tully's. The "R" sign was restored and is now located inside MOHAI (Museum of History and Industry). In 2013, the "T" was removed and a replica "R" sign with LED bulbs was built and installed on top of the brewery building again. The new sign has lights on both sides. For more, see this website. [map]
The State Hotel was built in 1889. This sign is probably from the 1950s or earlier. [map] |
| Panama Hotel Seattle, WA |
Mac's Upholstery Seattle, WA |
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The Panama Hotel was built in 1910. This sign appears to be from the 1940s or 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]
Mac's Upholstery opened in 1948. This sign was probably built in the 1950s. [map] |
| Marco Polo Motel Seattle, WA |
Buckaroo Tavern Seattle, WA |
University Seafood & Poultry [gone] Seattle, WA |
Ballroom Seattle, WA |
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The Marco Polo Motel sign is probably from the 1950s. The plastic panel at the bottom was originally a porcelain enamel panel with neon reading "Marco Polo Motel" in script. For more, see this website. [map]
The Buckaroo Tavern opened in 1938 and closed in 2010. The sign was removed and put in storage. The sign was probably built in the 1950s. In 2021, the sign was restored and is now displayed inside the Seattle Tavern & Pool Room. The "Tavern" panel now hangs on the side of that building. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. University Seafood & Poultry opened in 1945. This sign appears to be from the 1950s or 1960s. The restaurant closed in 2019 and the sign was removed. For more, see this website. The Ballroom was a pool hall, bar and dance club. I believe it opened in 2001. This appears to be a vintage sign. The building now houses Dragster. [map] |
| Kettells Grocery & Lounge Seattle, WA |
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| Kettells Grocery & Lounge opened in this building in 1946. This sign is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. In 2013, the neon was removed and the sign was reworked for Kittens Adult Cabaret. For more, see this website. [map] |
| Neon Electric Sign Co. [gone] Seattle, WA |
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| The Neon Electric Sign Co., aka NESCO, had many vintage, salvaged signs from the Seattle area on its lot. These photos are from 2008. Sometime after 2011, the business closed and the signs were removed. |
| K.R. Trigger Building Seattle, WA |
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| The K.R. Trigger Building has a few signs inside from the neon collection of Scott Andrews. Both of the signs shown here were restored by NESCO (see above). The Harborena Roller Skating Rink sign was originally installed in Hoquiam, WA. The Kitsap Lake Drive-in opened in Bremerton, WA in 1953 and closed in 1982. The 30-foot-long neon sign features an Indian shooting a bow and arrow. Andrews acquired the sign around 1989 and had it restored for about $20,000. Beams had to be cut at the sides of the building to accommodate the sign. When the building was sold to its present owner, Andrews left these signs in place. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| QFC Seattle, WA |
Burgermaster NE 45th St. Seattle, WA |
Burgermaster Aurora Ave. N. Seattle, WA |
Burgermaster Bellevue, WA |
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This QFC (Quality Food Center) sign originally advertised for an Art's Food Center. It was built in 1956. The globe still revolves. In 1998, Art's was purchased by QFC and the sign was adapted. For more, see this website. [map]
Burgermaster was established in 1952. There are now five locations in the Seattle area. These three signs are probably from the 1960s. The Aurora Ave. and Bellevue locations still feature car hop service. The Bellevue steer panel no longer has neon. It has new plastic panels. [NE 45th St. map]; [Aurora Ave. N. map]; [Bellevue map] |
| High Dive Seattle, WA |
Olympic Athletic Club Seattle, WA |
Icon Grill [gone] Seattle, WA |
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Seattle has several neon divers. These nostalgic figures were inspired by 1950s signs of diving women used by motels to indicate that they had heated pools. The most famous example is the animated sign at the Starlite Motel in Mesa, AZ.
The High Dive rock music club opened in 2005. This sign is from then. [map] The Olympic Athletic Club opened in 1979 and this sign was installed then. It was designed by Roger Legerano. The sign was removed in 2024 but the clock and diver are now displayed inside the business. [map] The Icon Grill opened in 1998. It closed in 2017 and this sign is gone now. This modern sign was one of only two representations of diving men that I have seen. The other is in Paducah, KY. |
| Cupcake Royale Seattle, WA |
5 Spot Seattle, WA |
Red Mill Burgers Seattle, WA |
Seattle Gymnastics Academy Seattle, WA |
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Cupcake Royale was established in 2003 and the company now has about six locations. This is a modern sign. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]
The 5 Spot opened in 1990 and this sign is from then. For more, see this website. [map] This Red Mill Burgers sign is modern. The restaurant has two locations which opened in 1994 and 1998. Both have these signs. [map] The Seattle Gymnastics Academy sign was built around 2012. It features an animated neon tumbling girl. For more, see this website. [map] |
| Elephant Car Wash [gone] Denny Way Seattle, WA |
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| Elephant Car Wash [gone] 4th Ave. S. Seattle, WA |
Elephant Car Wash Burien, WA |
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| Elephant Car Wash [gone] Tacoma, WA |
Elephant Car Wash [gone] Puyallup, WA |
Elephant Car Wash 112th St. E. Puyallup, WA |
Elephant Car Wash Main St. Puyallup, WA |
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| Elephant Car Wash Sumner, WA |
Elephant Car Wash Bonney Lake, WA |
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The Elephant Car Wash was founded in 1951 in Seattle and now has 14 locations in the Seattle area. The original sign was built for the 5 Minute Car Wash by Tube Art Displays. Several of the company's signs revolve. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The revolving Denny Way sign was designed by Beatrice Haverfield from Campbell Neon, using the original sign's design with the elephant. At the base of the sign panel were four small elephants, representing her four children. The sign was built in 1956 and was the largest and most elaborate sign left. In 2020, the location closed and the sign was moved to the Museum of History and Industry where it will be restored and displayed. The sign measures 18 feet by 23 feet. The two sides of the sign are different. The one side has animated neon, the other side with neon and flashing bulbs. For more, see this website. The smaller sign at the Denny Way location at the corner of 6th Avenue was donated to Amazon in 2020. In 2022, the neon was restored by Western Neon and installed on the Amazon campus near its original location. The original paint was left intact and covered with clear coat to protect it. [map] The 4th Ave. S. opened in 1951 as the first location. It closed in 2021 and the sign is gone now. The Tacoma location supposedly opened in 1963 and this sign is believed to be from then. It looks more modern than that to me. In 2019, the location was sold to another company. The elephant was painted over with white paint leaving just the "Car Wash" letters and the water spray bulbs. There was an older, revolving sign in Tacoma at another location. The Burien location opened later. The elephant probably revolved originally. [map] The first sign shown above in Puyallup revolved. It read Li'l Elephant Car Wash on the other side. This location had closed and the sign was gone by 2012. Another car wash occupies the site. The signs shown above in Puyallup at 112th St. E. are at a still-operating, modern location. [map] The Main St. Puyallup location has a modern pole sign. [map] The Sumner location's sign was installed sometime after 2012. The car wash was a Mr. Sudsy Car Wash at that time. [map] The Bonney Lake location's sign was installed sometime between 2012 and 2015. The location housed a Jet Stream Car Wash in 2012. [map] There is another location in Rancho Mirage, CA. There was a Jonesboro, AR location which is gone now. There was at least one location in Oregon which is also gone. |
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Copyright. All photos at this website are copyrighted and may only be used with my consent. This includes posting them at Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, other websites, personal use, etc. Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com. |