County Route-Blue Pentagon with Yellow Text (Reason For shape unknown)
National Forest Route Shield-Unknown history.
Interstates- Red White Blue Shield based on US Seal logo where Eagle uses shield
US Routes- White Shield Based in US Seal Logo where eagle uses shield
California State Route Shield-based on Green Spade based on 1849 gold Rush.
Hawaii State Route Shield- Based on Rain Drop yet a white Version of California Spade
Nevada and Idaho State routes based on state shape.
Texas Ranch Road and FM Road based on State shape.
Washington State route- Based on President Washington
QuoteRe: How Did Route Shields get their shape?
these days? plasma cutter.
Pennsylvania- keystone state
New York- modified state seal
New Hampshire- Old Man of the Mountain
ME, MA, RI, CT, WV, IN, IL, TX, MT- because they're all a bunch of squares
How much of this is conjecture? Neither US nor Interstate marker bears much resemblance to the shield in the US seal.
New England all had squares.
Then New Hampshire and Vermont changed, but a few older ones are still squares.
Quote from: Pete from Boston on March 10, 2014, 02:17:34 PM
How much of this is conjecture? Neither US nor Interstate marker bears much resemblance to the shield in the US seal.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/symbols/presidentialseal/color.GIF
this is my basis for US route shield design based on US routes and Interstates.
Quote from: Ian on March 10, 2014, 02:17:09 PM
ME, MA, RI, CT, WV, IN, IL, TX, MT- because they're all a bunch of squares
Prior to the circle being the default of choice, it seems that the square was the default route shield of choice in the 1940s and 1950s when many of these square/rectangular route shields came to be. For example, Illinois used to use a state-shape shield until about 1955-1960.
Michigan - unknown as to why, but the diamond with the block "M" at the top has been in use since the beginning of signed routes in the state in 1918.
Wisconsin - unknown, but the original was a downward-pointing triangle. It is speculated that this evolved to the current shape in order to give the route number more space.
Quote from: Brandon on March 10, 2014, 02:45:29 PM
Illinois used to use a state-shape shield until about 1955-1960.
Illinois introduced the state-named square in 1948, when the MUTCD specified oversize markers for junctions. instead of attempting to scale up the state outline, they went with the square.
they used the smaller cutouts until 1971 or so, when that MUTCD specified all route markers must be 24" or larger in each dimension. so they dropped the state outline then.
this means that indeed for about 20 years, there were two styles in play.
Quote from: bing101 on March 10, 2014, 02:27:44 PM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on March 10, 2014, 02:17:34 PM
How much of this is conjecture? Neither US nor Interstate marker bears much resemblance to the shield in the US seal.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/symbols/presidentialseal/color.GIF
this is my basis for US route shield design based on US routes and Interstates.
That's the presidential seal. Different seal, different shield.
I see what you're talking about regarding the Interstate emblem (which went through many design iterations) but this is nothing like a US route symbol. I recall reading that the US route symbol was something common in either military emblems or some kind of badge. I'm sure someone here knows the story.
Quote from: Pete from Boston on March 10, 2014, 04:29:36 PM
Quote from: bing101 on March 10, 2014, 02:27:44 PM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on March 10, 2014, 02:17:34 PM
How much of this is conjecture? Neither US nor Interstate marker bears much resemblance to the shield in the US seal.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/symbols/presidentialseal/color.GIF
this is my basis for US route shield design based on US routes and Interstates.
That's the presidential seal. Different seal, different shield.
I see what you're talking about regarding the Interstate emblem (which went through many design iterations) but this is nothing like a US route symbol. I recall reading that the US route symbol was something common in either military emblems or some kind of badge. I'm sure someone here knows the story.
It's based on a US shield used in various federal agencies.
Commerce (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US-DeptOfCommerce-Seal.svg)
Defense (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:United_States_Department_of_Defense_Seal.svg) - looks somewhat like the Interstate shield.
Justice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US-DeptOfJustice-Seal.svg) - again, somewhat like the Interstate shield.
Treasury (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US-DeptOfTheTreasury-Seal.svg) - look familiar for the US highway shield?
Air Force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Seal_of_the_US_Air_Force.svg) - again, familiar?
Interstate Commerce Commission (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US-InterstateCommerceCommission-Seal.png) - again, familiar?
Federal Maritime Commission (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FederalMaritimeCommissionSeal.jpg) - looks like the US highway shield again
There's a lot more. These are standard US shield shapes, both the US highway and Interstate ones.
Quote from: Brandon on March 10, 2014, 02:45:29 PM
Wisconsin - unknown, but the original was a downward-pointing triangle. It is speculated that this evolved to the current shape in order to give the route number more space.
It's a cheese wedge.
Florida: we're all dicks here.
Quote from: NE2 on March 10, 2014, 07:25:36 PM
Florida: we're all dicks here.
I was going to mention Stand Your Ground, but instead...with everything from Tampa Bay through the keys being the foreskin instead of a trigger.
Quote from: NE2 on March 10, 2014, 07:25:36 PM
Florida: we're all dicks here.
You said it better than I could have.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Florida_State_Roads_15_and_408.jpg
Here's Florida state route Shields for you although its the state shape but this speaks for itself.
Quote from: formulanone on March 10, 2014, 08:10:04 PM
Quote from: NE2 on March 10, 2014, 07:25:36 PM
Florida: we're all dicks here.
I was going to mention Stand Your Ground, but instead...with everything from Tampa Bay through the keys being the foreskin instead of a trigger.
Quote from: Brandon on March 10, 2014, 04:56:58 PM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on March 10, 2014, 04:29:36 PM
Quote from: bing101 on March 10, 2014, 02:27:44 PM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on March 10, 2014, 02:17:34 PM
How much of this is conjecture? Neither US nor Interstate marker bears much resemblance to the shield in the US seal.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/symbols/presidentialseal/color.GIF
this is my basis for US route shield design based on US routes and Interstates.
That's the presidential seal. Different seal, different shield.
I see what you're talking about regarding the Interstate emblem (which went through many design iterations) but this is nothing like a US route symbol. I recall reading that the US route symbol was something common in either military emblems or some kind of badge. I'm sure someone here knows the story.
It's based on a US shield used in various federal agencies.
Commerce (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US-DeptOfCommerce-Seal.svg)
Defense (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:United_States_Department_of_Defense_Seal.svg) - looks somewhat like the Interstate shield.
Justice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US-DeptOfJustice-Seal.svg) - again, somewhat like the Interstate shield.
Treasury (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US-DeptOfTheTreasury-Seal.svg) - look familiar for the US highway shield?
Air Force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Seal_of_the_US_Air_Force.svg) - again, familiar?
Interstate Commerce Commission (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US-InterstateCommerceCommission-Seal.png) - again, familiar?
Federal Maritime Commission (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FederalMaritimeCommissionSeal.jpg) - looks like the US highway shield again
There's a lot more. These are standard US shield shapes, both the US highway and Interstate ones.
I'll take your word for it rather than clicking on all those links.
I wonder what the origin of the shape is.
Kentucky uses a circle as a tribute to bubbling.
Quote from: Pete from Boston on March 10, 2014, 11:33:00 PM
I wonder what the origin of the shape is.
good question. Greek and Roman statues tend to have plain circular shields. I bet the US went with a distinctly-shaped shield just for recognition.
as for the original military purpose of such a shield shape? I believe the scallops are intended to catch an enemy's sword.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on March 11, 2014, 11:59:18 AM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on March 10, 2014, 11:33:00 PM
I wonder what the origin of the shape is.
good question. Greek and Roman statues tend to have plain circular shields. I bet the US went with a distinctly-shaped shield just for recognition.
as for the original military purpose of such a shield shape? I believe the scallops are intended to catch an enemy's sword.
No idea, but by the Middle Ages, some shields had pointed shapes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Codex_Manesse_052r_Walther_von_Klingen_%28detail_2%29.jpg
These are pointed, but rather long: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kite_shield
These may be how the modern US shields came to be: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heater_shield
Apparently these were made as they were easy to place one's heraldry on.
For the US highway shield, apparently it comes from the Great Seal. If you look at some of the smaller shield used to represent the states, they're heater shields (see above): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Seal_of_the_United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FirstCommitteeGreatSealObverseLossingDrawing.jpg
Look at the Seraphim Masi shield in his design for the Great Seal here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MasiTreatySealSkippet.jpg
Look familiar? It's almost exactly like the shield used for the Interstates many, many years later.
The 1877 die has the shape at the bottom similar to the US highway shield: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Great_Seal_1877_drawing.png
I strongly suspect that both shields, the US highways and the Interstates, were influenced by these above.
the treasury seal was very much a familiar shape by 1862.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2F9%2F91%2FUSDeptOfTreasurySeal-1862Bill_%2528Higher_Resolution%2529.jpg%2F596px-USDeptOfTreasurySeal-1862Bill_%2528Higher_Resolution%2529.jpg&hash=9effd3f36828fd4e05ed733f0e9440266e3808e6)
I find written mention of the treasury seal existing as early as 1782, but no picture of such. it may be that shape that early as well.
Arizona's is also based on the state's shape.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on March 10, 2014, 03:15:22 PM
Quote from: Brandon on March 10, 2014, 02:45:29 PM
Illinois used to use a state-shape shield until about 1955-1960.
Illinois introduced the state-named square in 1948, when the MUTCD specified oversize markers for junctions. instead of attempting to scale up the state outline, they went with the square.
And then IN, MD, RI and SC adopted it. The only difference is that MD decided to draw another line between the state name and number; also, SC ditched the plain-Jane square for a more attractive blue-on-white version that also incorporated the state shape into it.
Quote from: Henry on March 11, 2014, 02:29:48 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on March 10, 2014, 03:15:22 PM
Quote from: Brandon on March 10, 2014, 02:45:29 PM
Illinois used to use a state-shape shield until about 1955-1960.
Illinois introduced the state-named square in 1948, when the MUTCD specified oversize markers for junctions. instead of attempting to scale up the state outline, they went with the square.
And then IN, MD, RI and SC adopted it. The only difference is that MD decided to draw another line between the state name and number; also, SC ditched the plain-Jane square for a more attractive blue-on-white version that also incorporated the state shape into it.
That's why I think the square may have been the 1940s equivalent of the circle, the default.
Check out the number of squares from 1948: http://routemarkers.com/states/1948/ on James Lin's page.
I count 13, not including some like Wyoming's. There's a mere 4 circles, including New Mexico's Zia (not including Kansas's). There's also 5 diamonds. At least 2 of the square states went circle later on (Delaware, Vermont). This is what leads me to believe that there may have been an older default than the circle shield.
Well, the only diamonds that most of the traveling population knows of are MI and NC. They would be surprised that FL, NE and OK also used them.
Louisiana and Alabama used a diamond as well.
(//www.aaroads.com/shields/img/LA/LA19311711i1.jpg)
(//www.aaroads.com/shields/img/AL/AL19320431i1.jpg)
Quote from: Henry on March 11, 2014, 02:29:48 PM
And then IN, MD, RI and SC adopted it. The only difference is that MD decided to draw another line between the state name and number; also, SC ditched the plain-Jane square for a more attractive blue-on-white version that also incorporated the state shape into it.
lots of places adopted oversize squares independently.
SC actually had a crossbar at one time, but I don't have a photo offhand. the shield said S. CAROLINA at the top and looked very much like a Maryland.
Could it be Colorado's is based on the state shape (generally rectangular if you disregard the fact it's projected onto a sphere)? The state marker seems to have roughly the aspect ratio of the state's outline.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on March 11, 2014, 01:13:43 PM
the treasury seal was very much a familiar shape by 1862.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2F9%2F91%2FUSDeptOfTreasurySeal-1862Bill_%2528Higher_Resolution%2529.jpg%2F596px-USDeptOfTreasurySeal-1862Bill_%2528Higher_Resolution%2529.jpg&hash=9effd3f36828fd4e05ed733f0e9440266e3808e6)
I find written mention of the treasury seal existing as early as 1782, but no picture of such. it may be that shape that early as well.
That one, I believe, was the inspiration for the Merritt Parkway shield - or at least, it sure looks the part.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alpsroads.net%2Froads%2Fct%2Fct_15%2Fsmp.jpg&hash=6b932c08fc7c4096335ab237c9a7a9215ef1deb3)
What is the reason behind Viriginia's shield for their state highways. Also why they use the circle for their secondary highways?
See some history on the FWHA site here: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/numbers.cfm
Excerpts:
During the afternoon session on April 20, Lou A. Boulay (Ohio) suggested that the most important step was to select and number the interstate routes, with selection being the first step. The Joint Board agreed to postpone a discussion of numbering until the interstate highways had been identified. Boulay added that the official U.S. shield with "U.S.A." and a number on it would make a good marker.(8) Frank F. Rogers (Michigan) concurred that a national shield would be "quite satisfactory." The Joint Board then carried Boulay's motion in favor of adopting "a uniform system of through route marking for the United States" and that "a uniform shape and type of route marker, to be adopted later, be selected for the marking of these routes through the different States."
John A. MacDonald (Connecticut) asked, "Would it be necessary to designate 'interstate' routes?" Up to this point, all members had referred to the proposed highway network as consisting of "interstate routes," or "numbered Federal system of interstate highways," or an "interstate system." Colonel Greene commented (in the clipped wording of the minutes), "The word trans-continental won't offend anybody. U.S. highway will create criticism. I suggest using the shield and putting T.C. and name of State on it."
In the final afternoon session, the Joint Board again turned to the subject of a marker for the uniformly marked system. Rogers commented, "Each State should have the right to insert the name of the State in the upper part of the shield to be adopted." Years later, James recalled that he was sitting next to Rogers.
As we discussed a possible distinctive and unique marker . . . he doodled and produced a sort of shield. He handed it to me. I think I improved on his design by drawing a picture of our present shield. He took it back, presented it to the Board as just what was wanted, and that was that.
Rogers presented the drawing of the tentative shield to the Joint Board near the end of the afternoon session on April 21. According to the minutes, the design "met with the unanimous approval of the Board as a tentative design." The Joint Board then carried Chairman MacDonald's motion that a copy of the design be sent to the States for comment.
And footnote (8): The official U.S. shield can be seen on the back of the $1 bill (right side).
Most shields are either a state outline, or some variation on a square or circle.
I know that California's shield is a miner's spade (gold rush and all that), Kansas' is a sunflower because it's the sunflower state, and Washington's is a silhouette of George Washington for obvious reasons.
What I don't know is what the hell beehives have to do with Utah. Or what Hawaii, Oregon, and Virginia's various curved blobs are meant to represent.
Quote from: Duke87 on March 11, 2014, 11:05:36 PM
Most shields are either a state outline, or some variation on a square or circle.
What I don't know is what the hell beehives have to do with Utah.
I believe it has something to do with Mormons idealizing the industriousness and obedience of bees.
Quote from: Duke87 on March 11, 2014, 11:05:36 PM
What I don't know is what the hell beehives have to do with Utah.
Mormons are into beelike conformity.
http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Beehive_Symbol
Louisiana has a state outline that's just natural for numbers. Wide bottom, with a skinny top for letters.
Arkansas has a squarish shape for the state. Works for them too!
I think the county sign is the next logical step in shapes. Circles are MUTCD for states, triangles are used for YIELD signs, squares for general signage, so pentagons are next. Just my two cents.
Quote from: Duke87 on March 11, 2014, 11:05:36 PM
What I don't know is what the hell beehives have to do with Utah. Or what Hawaii, Oregon, and Virginia's various curved blobs are meant to represent.
Oregon's shield is based on the State Seal: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal_of_Oregon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal_of_Oregon). The modern route shield is pretty much the shape of the cutout sans eagle and border.
All of state route signs in Tennessee used to be a downward pointing triangle with T N or TENN on the top of the numbers but some signs had T N or TENN on the bottom of the numbers. Back in the 80's they updated primary highway signs to have TENNESSEE inside the state outline on the bottom and left secondary routes with the old original design. I've noticed as TDOT replaced the older secondary signs, TDOT left T N or TENN off and just have the numbers.
Also, North Dakota has numbers inside the silhouette of an Indian Chief in head dress with N D on the top corners. I kind of like it but wished they had the state outline on their route signs as the shape of ND is a natural fit for road signs like South Dakota has. Also, I hate when there are more than 2 numbers for a route and they try to fit it inside a state outline like GA and ALA do. It distorts the state shape like it was in a house of mirrors. They should just leave the shape alone and make the numbers a little smaller or the sign bigger.
I also hate the default circles like KY, IA, etc. Can't those states come up with something more original like their state outline or a design that has something unique about their state? IA would be good with a state outline and so would MT.
Quote from: SFPredsFan on March 12, 2014, 02:51:08 AM
I also hate the default circles like KY, IA, etc. Can't those states come up with something more original like their state outline or a design that has something unique about their state? IA would be good with a state outline and so would MT.
I don't hate the ones of IA, KY, and NJ as much. They've all used circles from the start. It's DE's and MS's circles is despise. If those three were the only circles, it wouldn't be as bad. DE and MS really do need to use something more original though.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NoojiJCT_IncheonInternationalAirportExpressWay.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NoojiJCT_IncheonInternationalAirportExpressWay.jpg)
Well South Korea uses a US Route Shield and Interstate color setup for their own Interstate Freeway system. Design is somewhere between US Routes and Interstate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea_National_Route_42
National Routes similar to US Routes and State Routes uses an oval route shield.
Quote from: The High Plains Traveler on March 11, 2014, 04:53:29 PM
Could it be Colorado's is based on the state shape (generally rectangular if you disregard the fact it's projected onto a sphere)? The state marker seems to have roughly the aspect ratio of the state's outline.
nah that's Wyoming's route marker. Colorado has that jog along its western boundary. (surveying error??)
Quote from: Duke87 on March 11, 2014, 11:05:36 PMwhat Hawaii, Oregon, and Virginia's various curved blobs are meant to represent.
Hawaii is a raindrop.
the original Oregon state route is much more representative (and better looking!) than the current alien head.
(//www.aaroads.com/shields/img/OR/OR19340501i1.jpg)
not sure how VA came about, but it seems to be a common design for signs as well as bridge plaques.
(//www.aaroads.com/shields/img/VA/VA19220331i1.jpg)
Quote from: SFPredsFan on March 12, 2014, 02:51:08 AM
All of state route signs in Tennessee used to be a downward pointing triangle with T N or TENN on the top of the numbers but some signs had T N or TENN on the bottom of the numbers. Back in the 80's they updated primary highway signs to have TENNESSEE inside the state outline on the bottom and left secondary routes with the old original design. I've noticed as TDOT replaced the older secondary signs, TDOT left T N or TENN off and just have the numbers.
1982 IIRC is the time of the change.
the secondary route shields are a different design than the old triangles: they have much more rounded corners.
TN is extremely rare; I've only seen it on one guide sign that may be done by the Park Service
(//www.aaroads.com/shields/img/TN/TN19770731i1.jpg)
do you have other examples?
as for TENN, it was always at the bottom; never seen it at the top. it's always been horizontal, except for this oddity, which I believe was actually made by, and posted in, Mississippi.
(//www.aaroads.com/shields/img/TN/TN19260811i1.jpg)
here is an old Miss for reference:
(//www.aaroads.com/shields/img/MS/MS19220121i1.jpg)
Quote from: Brandon on March 12, 2014, 06:51:26 AM
I don't hate the ones of IA, KY, and NJ as much. They've all used circles from the start. It's DE's and MS's circles is despise. If those three were the only circles, it wouldn't be as bad. DE and MS really do need to use something more original though.
NJ had both a triangle and a state-outline in the old, old days:
(//www.aaroads.com/shields/img/NJ/NJ19160131i1.jpg)
(//www.aaroads.com/shields/img/NJ/NJ19230041i1.jpg)
as for IA, they also had a state outline as late as 1925, but I do not have a photo of one offhand.
no idea about Kentucky...
I'm pretty sure Kentucky's always been a circle. I have never seen any in-the-wild or photographic evidence to indicate otherwise.
Speaking of shield shapes, this has been making the rounds on my Facebook feed in recent days:
http://wlrn.org/post/here-what-it-looks-when-traffic-engineers-design-highway-signs
I think Washington used a triangle before beheading George.
Quote from: NE2 on March 12, 2014, 02:16:33 PM
I think Washington used a triangle before beheading George.
I have not ever seen evidence of this. got a photo or a map scan?
the only triangular shield from WA I've ever seen is this issue but that appears to be 40s or 50s, thus a contemporary of George.
(//www.aaroads.com/shields/img/WA/WA19450041i1.jpg)
Yeah, that probably is what I remember seeing.
http://web.archive.org/web/20040830142150/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/HQ/library/ImageLibrary/1956-58/1956-58%20image24.htm
I seem to remember a photo in south Seattle with several secondary routes, however.
awesome photo! first I'd ever seen field use of the triangle.
I have no knowledge of Washington having a state secondary route system. got any more info?
It says "evacuation". Evacuation routes are probably triangles.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on March 12, 2014, 05:16:46 PM
I have no knowledge of Washington having a state secondary route system. got any more info?
Wikipedia has some information on them–apparently the secondaries were letter-suffixed routes branching from the primary routes, similar to OK. The current system arose from a renumbering in 1964. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_State_Highways_%28Washington%29
Quote from: SFPredsFan on March 12, 2014, 02:51:08 AMIA would be good with a state outline and so would MT.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alpsroads.net%2Froads%2Fia%2Fia_92%2Ft17n.jpg&hash=9a7d9f515ff7a4736112446d5fec02d28e310de8)
Quote from: 1 on March 12, 2014, 05:20:15 PM
It says "evacuation". Evacuation routes are probably triangles.
Triangle = Civil Defense, a term pretty much forgotten these days, but whose logo is at the top of the sign.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_defense
Evacuation signs have been round and blue as long as I have been alive, though they once had the CD triangle tucked in there somewhere.
Quote from: Scott5114 on March 12, 2014, 06:13:32 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on March 12, 2014, 05:16:46 PM
I have no knowledge of Washington having a state secondary route system. got any more info?
Wikipedia has some information on them–apparently the secondaries were letter-suffixed routes branching from the primary routes, similar to OK. The current system arose from a renumbering in 1964. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_State_Highways_%28Washington%29
Not to be confused with the actual branches of the primary routes, which had a two letter suffix, but were (I think) signed with just the number, and part of the primary system.
Generally, a "new" 3-digit route was probably a pre-1964 branch or secondary, while a "new" 1- or 2-digit route was probably a pre-1964 primary, though plenty of exceptions exist both ways, and there's no longer any legal distinction between primary and secondary.
Quote from: Scott5114 on March 12, 2014, 06:13:32 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on March 12, 2014, 05:16:46 PM
I have no knowledge of Washington having a state secondary route system. got any more info?
Wikipedia has some information on them–apparently the secondaries were letter-suffixed routes branching from the primary routes, similar to OK.
This is a secondary:
(//www.aaroads.com/shields/img/WA/WA19380101i1.jpg)
I'm probably wrong about the triangle. But Wisconsin did use a state outline :bigass:
Is that background dark green as opposed to black? Or are my eyes playing tricks on me?
Quote from: NE2 on March 13, 2014, 12:03:24 AM
Quote from: Scott5114 on March 12, 2014, 06:13:32 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on March 12, 2014, 05:16:46 PM
I have no knowledge of Washington having a state secondary route system. got any more info?
Wikipedia has some information on them—apparently the secondaries were letter-suffixed routes branching from the primary routes, similar to OK.
This is a secondary:
(//www.aaroads.com/shields/img/WA/WA19380101i1.jpg)
I'm probably wrong about the triangle. But Washington Wisconsin did use a state outline :bigass:
Fixed it for you.
The only outlines Wisconsin ever used are for marking Heritage Trails and Rustic Roads, never officially for state trunk highways.
what
[edit]Washington never used a state outline. But Chris Bessert can eat poo.
Quote from: DaBigE on March 13, 2014, 12:56:53 AM
Quote from: NE2 on March 13, 2014, 12:03:24 AM
I'm probably wrong about the triangle. But Washington Wisconsin did use a state outline :bigass:
Fixed it for you.
The only outlines Wisconsin ever used are for marking Heritage Trails and Rustic Roads, never officially for state trunk highways.
Wisconsin started out with the downward pointing triangle as seen on DaBigE's avatar. It later, by the 1940s evolved into a more modern shape that we seen today. Why they used the downward pointing triangle? I have no idea.
Quote from: Kacie Jane on March 13, 2014, 12:34:55 AM
Is that background dark green as opposed to black? Or are my eyes playing tricks on me?
These signs look like they were colorized after the fact. I have trouble believing Nebraska would paint each shield blue and green like that.
I had no idea that the lettered routes were intended to be secondary. if so, there were only a very small handful of primary routes. numbered 1-20 or so. even fewer than the amount of one- or two-digit routes present today. nowadays, a lot of Washington's three-digit routes can be considered secondary, and the numbering system follows the old number-letter one, except with a numerical final digit.
as for triangle shields marking suffixed routes - I have never seen such a thing; and I bet NE2 indeed misremembered an evacuation route shield. all the old routes, primary and secondary, were Washington heads as far as I've ever seen.
Quote from: Brandon on March 12, 2014, 11:33:11 PM
Quote from: D-Dey65 on March 12, 2014, 10:44:40 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on March 12, 2014, 01:34:32 PM
Hawaii is a raindrop.
I thought it was a macadamia nut.
It's the Diamond Head on Oahu.
I'm pretty sure the shield represents the shape of Hawaii, the Big Island.