The White Stag Sign, also known as the “Portland Oregon” Sign, is a neon sign on top of the White Stag Building that welcomes people as they enter downtown Portland, Oregon. The sign has changed names, forms and ownership over the years, but that history is just part of why it has become one of the most […]
Category: Monumentous Icons
The Pegasus Becomes a Symbol of Dallas
From Logo to Icon
All throughout Dallas, Texas, the symbol of the mythic horse from Greek mythology shows up in places and ways that are both obvious and understated. Appearing on murals, signs, plazas and even used in advertising, the Pegasus has become an icon for Dallas as well as one of the city’s most popular attractions. What started […]
The Universal Influence of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
There likely isn’t a bigger icon of Las Vegas than the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
What some have referred to as “the most recognizable icon in the world,” simultaneously welcomes people coming into Las Vegas and invites back those who are departing. However, these gestures are just part of the reason that the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign compels visitors to line up for a chance to snap a […]
The Little Mermaid Becomes an Icon for Copenhagen
Drawing attention and crowds from across Denmark and the entire world
Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale about a mermaid who gives up everything to be united with a young, handsome prince on land, the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, Denmark is as unassuming as it is influential. Slightly bigger than life-size, the statue has been a major tourist attraction ever since it was first […]
The Hollywood Sign as an American Landmark and Cultural Icon
Representing a spirit as much as a physical place
Hollywood is a physical district in central Los Angeles, but it is also a mentality and culture, and the Hollywood Sign has come to signify all of these things and more in a profound way. Few landmarks and monuments have been able to achieve the status of the sign, which is especially impressive considering that […]
What Does “I amsterdam” Mean for the City and the Netherlands?
Create a brand that would be recognized all over the world
Monuments often have storied or tumultuous tales around how they came to exist, but “I amsterdam” presents an especially simple origin since it began as a brand campaign for the city and its residents. The original intention of the campaign was to market Amsterdam in a positive light in the wake of a financial crisis, […]