Grain Belt Beer
Minneapolis, MN
Photo courtesy Matthew Hands

It's hard to miss the giant bottle cap floating above the Mississippi River. The famous Grain Belt Beer sign has been a Minneapolis landmark since 1941, and its clever artwork creates the illusion that the bottle cap is actually projecting outward from the sign. It's one of those roadside designs that makes you look twice.

The porcelain-faced sign was originally installed atop the Marigold Ballroom on Nicollet Avenue before being moved to Nicollet Island in 1950. Measuring roughly 50 feet wide and 40 feet tall, it quickly became one of the most recognizable advertising signs in the Twin Cities, greeting motorists and pedestrians crossing the nearby Hennepin Avenue Bridge.

Although Grain Belt beer was originally brewed in Minneapolis, the sign outlived the city's brewing industry and remained a familiar part of the skyline long after the brewery closed. Today it's as much a Minneapolis landmark as it is an advertisement, drawing photographers and road trippers who come to admire one of the Midwest's classic signs. 08-17

UPDATE: After years of sitting dark, the Grain Belt sign underwent a major restoration following its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. It was relit in late 2017 using LED lighting designed to replicate the original neon appearance, ensuring this Minneapolis landmark will continue lighting up the skyline for years to come. 06-26

Nate's Clothing (Closed)
Minneapolis, MN
Photo courtesy Matthew Hands

Here's an old vintage sign for Nate's Clothing, where "Fashion Is First!" Hey, that's a jingle! For decades, the green-and-white neon marquee welcomed downtown shoppers looking for a new suit, sport coat, or just a little help looking sharp. It became one of the most recognizable storefront signs in Minneapolis.

Founded in 1916 by Nathan Witebsky, Nate's Clothing built a loyal following by offering quality menswear at reasonable prices. The family-owned business spent generations serving Twin Cities customers, while its projecting neon sign became a familiar sight for anyone walking along North 4th Street.

Independent clothing stores like Nate's were once a fixture of downtown business districts across America. Long before shopping malls and big-box retailers, stores like this helped generations of young men pick out everything from their first interview suit to wedding attire. 08-17

UPDATE: Nate's Clothing closed in 2008 after more than 90 years in business. The familiar green-and-white neon sign was removed, but a faded ghost sign remains on the side of the neighboring Robitshek Building, offering one last reminder of a longtime Minneapolis institution where, as the slogan promised, "Fashion Is First!" 06-26

Wyman Building
Minneapolis, MN
Photo courtesy Matthew Hands

Here's a photo of the Wyman Building in Minneapolis. Check out the contrast of the black letters on the white background. Okay, I'm reaching here.

Completed in 1896, the Wyman Building originally served as the headquarters and warehouse for Wyman, Partridge & Company, once the largest wholesale dry goods business north of Chicago. Designed by the Minneapolis architectural firm of Long and Kees, the handsome seven-story building has remained a fixture of the city's Warehouse District for well over a century.

One of its more interesting claims to fame came in 1910, when an addition behind the building was connected by enclosed bridges spanning the alley. Those bridges are widely credited as the first enclosed skyways in Minneapolis, kicking off a concept that would eventually grow into the city's famous skyway system.

Today the building is appreciated as much for its architecture as its history. The bold Wyman lettering still catches your eye from the street, serving as a reminder of Minneapolis' days as one of the nation's busiest wholesale and warehouse centers. 08-17

UPDATE: The Wyman Building remains beautifully preserved and continues to serve as office space within the Minneapolis Warehouse Historic District. After spending years as a home for artists' studios and galleries, the building has been restored while retaining many of its original architectural details, including the familiar Wyman name that still overlooks downtown. 06-26

Case
Belle Plaine, IA
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

This vintage Case sign still stands guard over Belle Plaine. Ever wonder what the bird has to do with the sign? It's actually "Old Abe," a real bald eagle that served as the mascot of a Wisconsin regiment during the Civil War and was named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln.

J.I. Case founder Jerome Increase Case was so impressed by the eagle's story that he adopted Old Abe as the company's trademark after the war. Before long, the eagle perched atop a globe became one of the most recognizable symbols in American agriculture, appearing on tractors, threshing machines, and Case dealership signs across the country.

Today, signs like this are becoming increasingly hard to find. Even for folks who have never driven a Case tractor, the familiar eagle still evokes a time when every farm town had its own equipment dealer proudly displaying one of these colorful roadside markers. 08-17

UPDATE: The historic Case sign remains standing along Highway 21 in Belle Plaine. Although the sign shows its age after decades of exposure to the Iowa weather, Old Abe continues to keep watch over the town, making this a favorite stop for roadside photographers and tractor enthusiasts alike. 06-26

Bell's Amusement Park (Gone)
Tulsa, OK
Photo courtesy Steve Felder

A traditional amusement park loved by generations of Oklahomans, Bell's Amusement Park had one of the more unusual entrance signs around. Instead of standing by itself, the glowing Bell's marquee was mounted directly onto the wooden framework of the park's famous Zingo roller coaster. It made for one unforgettable welcome.

Opened in 1968 at Tulsa's Expo Square, Zingo was designed by legendary coaster engineer John C. Allen and quickly became the park's signature attraction. Rising above 21st Street, the massive wooden coaster could be seen from blocks away, with the Bell's sign glowing from its side.

While you were there, one of the best sights was Bell's after dark. Thousands of lights illuminated the midway, the Ferris wheel, and Zingo, creating the kind of summer night memories that still bring a smile to longtime Tulsans. 08-17

UPDATE: Bell's Amusement Park closed after the 2006 season when its lease at Expo Square was not renewed. The Zingo roller coaster and its distinctive sign were dismantled, and the site was redeveloped for fairgrounds parking. Although plans to build a new Bell's in Broken Arrow were announced years later, the project never came to fruition. For many Tulsans, however, Bell's remains one of the city's most cherished memories. 06-26