Check out this fantastic rooftop sign for the Meadow Gold in Tulsa, OK.
This is one sign that could literally be seen for blocks.
Meadow Gold (Removed)
Tulsa, OK Photo courtesy Chris King
The giant Meadow Gold sign has been turning heads along Route 66 in Tulsa since 1934. Towering above 11th Street, its bright yellow lettering and oversized clocks made it one of those landmarks that travelers couldn't help but notice. Even after the neon went dark, the sign still had a way of stopping people in their tracks.
At 30 feet square on each side, the Meadow Gold sign wasn't just another billboard. It was one of the largest roadside advertising signs on Route 66, built to grab the attention of passing motorists long before chain restaurants and towering interstate signs became the norm. It probably sold plenty of milk over the years, but it also became one of Tulsa's most recognizable landmarks.
Time wasn't especially kind to the sign. The clocks disappeared, the neon stopped glowing, and years of weather left it looking tired. When the little building beneath it was slated for demolition in 2004, it looked like the Meadow Gold sign had finally reached the end of the road.
Fortunately, that wasn't the case. Local preservation groups stepped in and carefully removed the sign before demolition began. It was then completely restored and relocated just a few blocks away, where it could continue watching over Route 66 instead of ending up in a scrapyard.
Meadow Gold Neon 2010
Tulsa, OK Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
When the sign was relit in 2009, it felt like an old friend had returned. Replica clocks were added a few years later, completing the restoration and bringing back the look that generations of Tulsans remembered. Today, it's hard to imagine driving down 11th Street without seeing it glowing once again.
The Meadow Gold sign is proof that not every roadside story has to end with a wrecking ball. Sometimes all it takes is a group of people who care enough to save something that everyone else thought was expendable.
UPDATE: The Meadow Gold sign that was removed from Route 66 in Tulsa, OK a few years ago will be returning to Route 66 near its original site in January. According to the December 5, 2008 Tulsa's World article, the sign is almost fully restored and will be located at the intersection of Quaker Avenue and 11th Street. 12-08
Meadow Gold in the day
Tulsa, OK Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
UPDATE: The historic Meadow Gold sign has been restored and now sits at 11th Street and Quaker Avenue. According to Route 66 News, a dedication ceremony was held on May 22 and by the looks of things, the Meadow Gold sign looks as good as ever. The sign had been dismantled from its original location at the SW Corner of 11th & Lewis in 2004 as originally reported in Preservation Alley. 05-09
UPDATE: Here's a daytime shot of the Meadow Gold and the building underneath. 08-17
UPDATE: Although the original building is gone, the Meadow Gold sign was beautifully restored and relocated to a new public plaza along Route 66. Today it once again lights up Tulsa's Mother Road and remains one of the finest surviving neon signs anywhere in the country. 07-26
Tulsa, OK --- A familiar Tulsa landmark needs help.
The
immense Meadow Gold rooftop sign in Tulsa, OK has been donated to a preservation
group by the generous new owner of its building. However, help is needed
for the move of the huge sign and supporting structure. The sign, first
established in 1934, is still located at the SW Corner of 11th & Lewis.
Send checks to:
TFA / Save the Sign
c/o Tulsa Foundation for Architecture
2210-R S. Main
Tulsa, OK 74114
Questions can be directed to Rick Schmigle at (918) 492-2822 or e-mail: route66@webzone.net
The foundation is a nonprofit organization, so your donation is tax-deductible.
Check out this fantastic rooftop sign for the Meadow Gold in Tulsa, OK.
This is one sign that could literally be seen for blocks.
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Meadow Gold in the day
