Street Sign
A Historical Look at Street Signs
We often see them on our way to work, to the mall or park but more often than not, we pay very little attention to them. Well, they seem mostly irrelevant unless we need to know where we are headed. In this aspect, street signs are quite a useful lot and it seems like they have been in existence since time immemorial. Amid the plethora of street signs, have you ever stopped and wondered where it all began?
According to historians, the very first street signs can hardly be described as signs at all. Built by the Romans, the predecessors of the modern street signs were massively tall columns designed to let travelers know how far they were from Rome and what direction they should travel. These “massively tall columns” were called milestones.
In the Middle Ages, the street signs became a bit more advanced. Street signs were now used to point travelers to certain cities and towns in Europe. Most street signs also noted the distance to certain towns.
The importance of street signs became more pronounced upon the arrival of the first automobiles. As more drivers took to the streets, they needed the help of street signs to let them know where they were going, how to get there and how much farther they are from their destination. It wasn’t until 1895 when the Italian Touring Club organized a group to petition for better street signs as an aid to both drivers and travelers.
As the new century started, the International Road Congress met in Rome to discuss signage on European roads. In this meeting, the group agreed on four pictorial signs that were to note road conditions. The first four road signs were the “bump”, “curve”, “intersection” and “railroad crossing” signs and they constituted the first European road sign system. The European system is the basis for America’s sign system and by the 1960s, America was using international symbols to depict road conditions, impose speed limits and provide helpful information to travels.
The advent of digital technology has given rise to many electronic street signs. As opposed to the traditional street signs, these tech-savvy signs are able to flash pictures and can be instantly updated by computer to reflect changing road conditions.
And while street signs were initially invented to give directions to travelers and drivers, they are increasingly being utilized as effective marketing tools. Many companies allot a substantial amount of their yearly budget for street signs as a way to attract more customers into their fold. As demand for outdoor signage increased, many entrepreneurs have come up with innovative solutions to delivering quality signage.
One such company is SignWire.com. SignWire.com provides innovative commercial business sign solutions that customers also utilize for residential applications. For nearly three decades, SignWire.com has been doing graphics design and layouts as well as degrees of sign fabrication and installation procedures. Their breadth of experience means that their representatives understand the various steps and proper procedure involved in the completion of their customer’s sign projects.
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Jeffrey L. Becht is Owner-President of SignWire.com, a sign distributor of traffic and parking signs, with a web site (www.signwire.com) that produces the highest quality products at the most competitive prices.
About the Author
Ozomatli Street Signs live
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NCAA Virginia Tech Hokies Football Street Sign NEW $12.99 |
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Vintage Brooklyn NY Trolley Train Advertising FLATBUSH AVENUE Street Car Sign $2,500.00 |
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ICE CREAM Street Sign shop lover new store gift scoop sundae cone food desert $6.99 |
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LSU Tigers Louisiana State Street Sign NCAA Licensed $8.15 |
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HOLSTEIN Street Sign cattle dairy milk farmer farm cow collectible ranch gift $6.99 |
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Stone House Name Number Natural Slate Address Sign Custom Street Marker Plaque $40.89 |
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West Yellowstone MT Street View Taxaco Sign Vintage Store Fronts Cars Postcard $6.99 |
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San Francisco Streets Automotive Vintage Metal Sign $40.00 |
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San Francisco Streets Automotive Vintage Metal Sign $40.00 |
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REAL ROAD WORK AHEAD STREET TRAFFIC SIGN $72.99 |
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REAL FLAGGER * ROAD STREET TRAFFIC SIGN $75.99 |
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ARCHERY Street Sign bow arrow target hunting bowhunting crossbow hunter game $6.99 |
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REAL BLACK RIGHT ARROW STREET TRAFFIC SIGN $26.99 |
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REAL BLACK STRAIGHT ARROW STREET TRAFFIC SIGN $26.99 |
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TERMINATOR 2 T2 SCREEN USED MINIATURE STREET STOP SIGN PROP $17.78 |
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REAL GREEN ARROW STREET TRAFFIC SIGN $16.99 |
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REAL BLUE ARROW STREET TRAFFIC SIGN $16.99 |
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REAL LIBRARY STREET TRAFFIC SIGN $16.99 |
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REAL HOSPITAL STREET TRAFFIC SIGN $16.99 |
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REAL BIKE ROUTE STREET TRAFFIC SIGN $29.99 |
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RPPC Street Scene – SHEFFIELD ALABAMA – 1951 w/DR. PEPPER SIGN + MOVIE THEATRE $78.22 |
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6 ANTIQUE TRAIN RAILROAD SIGN STREETLIGHT STREET LIGHTS $19.99 |
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REAL PARKING WITH ARROW STREET TRAFFIC SIGN $21.99 |
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TERMINATOR 2 T2 SCREEN USED MINIATURE STREET YIELD SIGN PROP $15.50 |
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TERMINATOR 2 T2 SCREEN USED MINIATURE STREET 40 SPEED LIMIT SIGN PROP $13.00 |
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ITALIAN FLAG Street Sign italy italiano flags pride restaurant spaghetti pizza $6.99 |
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MANDOLIN PLAYER Street Sign lute string music lesson teacher orchestra band $6.99 |
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EMU LOVER Street Sign Australia bird lover watcher birding birdwatcher $6.99 |
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Cloquet, Minnesota, Street Scene, sign: Northern Hotel, Postcard circa 1910 $4.99 |
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NABORS Street Sign – Personalized Last Name Sign $10.99 |
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NADEAU Street Sign – Personalized Last Name Sign $10.99 |
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NADER Street Sign – Personalized Last Name Sign $10.99 |
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NADLER Street Sign – Personalized Last Name Sign $10.99 |
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NAGEL Street Sign – Personalized Last Name Sign $10.99 |
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NAGLE Street Sign – Personalized Last Name Sign $10.99 |
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NAGY Street Sign – Personalized Last Name Sign $10.99 |
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NAIL Street Sign – Personalized Last Name Sign $10.99 |
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NAJERA Street Sign – Personalized Last Name Sign $10.99 |
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NAKAMURA Street Sign – Personalized Last Name Sign $10.99 |
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NAKANO Street Sign – Personalized Last Name Sign $10.99 |
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NALL Street Sign – Personalized Last Name Sign $10.99 |
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NALLEY Street Sign – Personalized Last Name Sign $10.99 |
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NANCE Street Sign – Personalized Last Name Sign $10.99 |
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NAPIER Street Sign – Personalized Last Name Sign $10.99 |
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NAPOLEON Street Sign – Personalized Last Name Sign $10.99 |
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Street Sign Cupcake Picks – 12ct $2.95 These are a great way to give your cake or cupcakes that professional look. 12 plastic picks…. |
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Nostalgia Electrics HDC-701 Vintage Collection Carnival Hot Dog Cart & Umbrella $413.21 This large, carnival-style hot dog cart w/umbrella and 12-in. rolling wheels is similar to those seen on busy, big-city street corners. This hot dog stand is a fun way for guests to select and make their own hot dogs or hamburgers at a home picnic or party. It’s also a great item for organizations to use at ball games, fairs, pep rallies and other special events. Comes complete with a roller to co… |
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Ceramic Coffee Travel Mug with Lid – Peace Sign Design – Comes Gift Boxed – 19 Oz – 6.25 Tall $13.49 Gift boxed ceramic travel mug with lid. Peace sign design. Ceramic – approximately 6.25″ tall. Microwave and dishwasher safe. Holds 19 ounces. New… |
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Sesame Street – Learning About Letters [VHS] $0.18 Big Bird and Telly Monster lead young viewers through the alphabet, letter by letter, in a magical and imaginative half-hour discovery of letters and their sounds. The perfect tape for young Sesame Street fans who are just beginning to get the hang of what letters are all about, it includes short skits, songs, and other bits of business–some original, some culled from the Sesame Street show–fea… |
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Sesame Street: Bedtime With Elmo $8.43 It’s bedtime on Sesame Street! Just like all little kids, Elmo and Abby would rather make funny faces and sing silly songs than go to sleep. Luckily, Elmo’s dad Louie knows just how to deal with extra glasses of water and little monsters who are afraid of the dark. Parents will love practical strategies Louie uses to get Elmo and Abby to go to bed, and children will love snuggling under the covers… |
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Under the Big Top: 100 Years of Circus Music $9.32 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
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Elmo’s World – Elmo Has Two $6.75 50 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo…. |
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Luster Leaf Rapiclip 6-Inch Garden Plant Labels – 50 Pack 840 $2.12 Luster Leaf 840 Rapiclip 6â Plant Labels With Pencil (12 Pack) Luster Leaf 840 Rapiclip 6â Plant Labels With Pencil (12 Pack) Features: 6″ plant labels 50 per card… |
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Sarah Peyton Outdoor Solar LED Address Plaque $19.30 Add style and function to your home’s exterior with the Sarah Peyton Solar LED Address Plaque. Powered by the Sun, this solar panel charges the built-in LED lights without any batteries or wires. Stake the plaque directly into your lawn, or mount the unit directly to your home’s siding with the included hardware. The plaque features LED illumination with a reflective core which provides excellent … |
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RoomMates RMK1384SCS Sesame Street Peel & Stick Wall Decals $8.49 … |
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Play Smart Set of Street Traffic Signs $16.88 Entice your child’s imagination with this fun set. Decorate your Plan city with these realistic 15 different street signs, and put a new spin on his or her game. |
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Sterling Silver and Green Enamel 5th Avenue Charm $39.99 This fun charm features a 5th Avenue street sign design rendered in sterling silver and green enamel. The silver charm offers a highly polished finish and includes a matching jump ring to attach to your favorite jewelry. |
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Lacey Shelton ‘Wren Street’ Art Print $38.99 Inspired by the functional and often overlooked beauty of city lights and signs, artist Lacey Shelton creates a modern street scene with a wren perched very befittingly on top of a wren street sign. |
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Sterling Silver and Green Enamel Times Square Charm $37.99 This fun charm features a Times Square street sign design rendered in sterling silver and green enamel. The silver charm offers a highly polished finish and includes a matching clip on clasp to attach to your favorite jewelry. |
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Sterling Silver and Blue Enamel Fashion Avenue Charm $33.99 This fun charm features a Fashion Avenue street sign design rendered in sterling silver and blue enamel. The silver charm offers a highly polished finish and includes a matching jump ring to attach to your favorite jewelry. |
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Sterling Silver and Black Enamel Wall Street Charm $37.99 This fun charm features a Wall Street street sign design rendered in sterling silver and black enamel. The silver charm offers a highly polished finish and includes a matching jump ring to attach to your favorite jewelry. |
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Sterling Silver and Purple Enamel Greenwich Avenue Charm $38.99 This fun charm features a Greenwich Avenue street sign design rendered in sterling silver and purple enamel. The silver charm offers a highly polished finish and includes a matching jump ring to attach to your favorite jewelry. |
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Sterling Silver and Purple Enamel W 42nd Street Charm $39.99 This fun charm features a W 42nd Street sign design rendered in sterling silver and purple enamel. The silver charm offers a highly polished finish and includes a matching jump ring to attach to your favorite jewelry. |
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Sterling Silver and Blue Enamel South Street Charm $33.99 This fun charm features a South Street sign design rendered in sterling silver and blue enamel. The silver charm offers a highly polished finish and includes a matching jump ring to attach to your favorite jewelry. |
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Rail Master HO Scale Electric Train Set $77.29 This Lifelike HO Scale ‘Rail Master’ Train Set features over 100 pieces including utility poles, railroad and street signs. This toy train set features a four unit Santa Fe Diesel Locomotive with working headlight. |
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Ozomatli – Street Signs $6.92 Disc 1:Believe – (Spanish)Love and HopeStreet Signs – (Spanish)America?, (Who Discovered)Who`s to BlameTe Estoy Buscando – (Spanish)Saturday NightDejame en Paz – (Spanish)Santiago – (Spanish)… |
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Just My Type (Hardcover) $17.23 A hugely entertaining and revealing guide to the history of type that asks, What does your favorite font say about you? Fonts surround us every day, on street signs and buildings, on movie posters and books, and on just about every p… |
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Signspotting III (Paperback) $9.22 This full-color guide takes readers on a worldwide tour of both bizarre and hilarious street signs and advertisements, including ?Speedo Check Ahead,? ?UFO University,? and ?House for Sale By Owner with Gas.? Original. |
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The Arrow Finds Its Mark (Hardcover) $13.97 Twitter feeds, school notes, advertisements, street signs–find poetry in the unlikely places with thirty comtemporary poets. Imagine picking up a scrap of paper off the floor or reading a sign at a gas station… |
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Chinglish $7.91 Chinglish offers a humorous and insightful look at misuses of the English language in Chinese street signs, products, and advertising. A long-standing favorite of English speaking tourists and visitors, Chinglish is now quickly becoming a culture relic… |
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Sign Painters (Paperback) $17.65 There was a time-as recently as the 1980s-when storefronts, murals, banners, barn signs, billboards, and even street signs were all hand-lettered with brush and paint. But, like many skilled trades, the sign industry has been overrun by the techno-fuel… |