What are your favorite state welcome signs?

[1995hoo]

I couldn't find a photo of such and certainly not a favorite by any stretch of the imagination but back in the 70s, along every highway that crossed the MA state line; motorists were greeted with a Massachusetts Gun Law sign that was typically at least twice the size of any adjacent Welcome To Massachusetts sign.

Virginia did something similar from about 1998 to 2002 under the Gilmore Adminstration. "Project Exile" was a big initiative to get rid of illegal guns and there were some big signs near the state lines (though not right next to the welcome signs) that read something like "Illegal Gun? EXILE" (with exile in HUGE bright yellow letters, IIRC) and underneath it warned of five years in prison (Virginia abolished parole earlier in the 1990s).

The signs were removed after Mark Warner was sworn in as governor in 2002; he said that while he agreed with the initiative, he thought such unwelcoming signs were inappropriate at the state lines.

[oscar]

I can't find a photo of my favorite, the impertinent Maine welcome sign (at least as of 2003), saying something like "Welcome to Maine - The Way Life Should Be".  Is that still in use?  I don't remember seeing one on a later visit in 2011. 

While we're getting into Canadian welcome signs, here are two on the Dempster Highway at the YT/NT border, and one for BC on one of several Alaska Highway crossings from the Yukon.  The crossings of the NT border at about the 60th parallel have a more ornate welcome sign I don't like (NT 1/AB 35), a boring welcome sign (NT 7/BC 77), or no welcome sign at all (NT 5 starting east of Fort Smith, and twice dipping into and out of Alberta as it heads west).  Of the three below, I prefer the simpler and tourism-slogan-less NT design.

[1995hoo]

I can't find a photo of my favorite, the impertinent Maine welcome sign (at least as of 2003), saying something like "Maine - The Way Life Should Be".  Is that still in use?

....

Here's a picture Ms1995hoo took from the passenger seat on July 16, 2007. (Yes, the color is messed up. Something was wrong with the camera she had at the time.) As you'd expect, we were on northbound I-95.

[roadman]

Regarding Welcome signs:  Over the past year, MassDOT has been systematically replacing their Interstate and freeway "Massachusetts Welcomes You" with new signs based on the original 1980s vintage white on blue "mayflower and chickadee" design (but minus the governor's and lieutenant governor's names - which were blued out on signs during the early days of the Mitt Romney era).  The "wild turkey" signs that were installed at some locations in the early 1990s will eventually all be replaced with the new blue signs.

These signs are being fabricated by MassDOT's Medford Sign Shop and being installed by MassDOT forces.

My sources tell me it's unlikely that this new design will be extended to welcome signs on secondary highways entering Massachusetts, as the size of the new signs prevents their installation at most secondary border locations.  Also, it's my understanding that the complexity of the graphics precludes shrinking the signs to a small enough size panel to easily fit.

[Perfxion]

I love Connecticut, where the closest thing to a sports team gets top billing every year they win a championship and goes on the Welcome, like this year 2013 NCAA Women's basketball champions.


But too bad this is a photoshop but on my list for greatest ever if real: http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l8p4x2yVV61qz80pso1_500.jpg

[Ian]

I can't find a photo of my favorite, the impertinent Maine welcome sign (at least as of 2003), saying something like "Maine - The Way Life Should Be".  Is that still in use?

....

Here's a picture Ms1995hoo took from the passenger seat on July 16, 2007. (Yes, the color is messed up. Something was wrong with the camera she had at the time.) As you'd expect, we were on northbound I-95.

And as of March of 2013...

[webfil]

I like those Utah and Yukon signs!

Québec welcome signs found on routes 133, 173, 185 and autoroutes are somewhat artsy : http://goo.gl/maps/jKwDj
Other major highways have «Bonjour!» signs : http://goo.gl/maps/hOaUJ
Minor roads (and TCH route 117) got «Québec» MGSs : http://goo.gl/maps/6SHJb

Probably the worst "welcome" sign I've seen ; it's maintained by the National Capital Commission : http://goo.gl/maps/Ip36C

[agentsteel53]

And as of March of 2013...

that is appalling.  Arialveticverstesk strikes again, and the layout is aesthetically displeasing.  someone with a graphic design clue could redo that one to look better in about four seconds - probably shrink the MAINE and decrease the spacing between letters.

here's a great NWT one.

[deathtopumpkins]

I actually like the Maine one. Sure, it's nothing fancy, but it's short, sweet, and to-the-point.

[agentsteel53]

I don't mind the verbiage, but there is just something jarringly displeasing about the layout.  nothing as easy to put a finger on as "it is centered incorrectly", but just something.  I believe there just isn't enough blue background; the text is too large.

[NE2]

Needs a lobster.

Not a real photo.

[briantroutman]

As an aside, does anybody know if there are any other states besides Kansas and New Mexico that have signs indicating you are leaving the state? Those are the only ones I recall ever seeing.

Maryland has "We enjoyed your company–Please Come Back!"
http://bit.ly/18BJDx2

...but minus the governor's and lieutenant governor's names - which were blued out on signs during the early days of the Mitt Romney era...

Growing up and traveling around the Mid Atlantic states, the Governor's name was nearly a guarantee on every state welcome sign, but now it seems I'm seeing them listed less often. Pennsylvania blotted out Ed Rendell's name halfway through his administration to be replaced by "State of Independence", and when I drove up I-83 last week, I noticed that it hadn't been changed to list Tom Corbett either. Is this a trend?

And I believe Pennsylvania also used to list a menu of fines for various speeds over the limit–a separate sign after the welcome sign. Are there any other states that do or did this?

[exit322]

Needs a lobster.

Not a real photo.

Clearly not.  Maine would not use 1994 Alanland MUgoaTCD standard.

[CrossCountryRoads]

I think I saw one in Oregon as well that said "Leaving Oregon" but I'm not certain.

I think there is one like that on either the US-97 or US-197 bridge to Washington.

Upon looking at the video footage I shot, on I-5 North leaving Oregon and crossing the Columbia River into Washington, the sign only says "Leaving Portland", not "Leaving Oregon".  My mistake.

[ghYHZ]

Here's the sign on NL510 just east of the ferry terminal at Blanc-Sablon, Quebec. This is mainland Labrador......not on the island of Newfoundland.....and the start of the Trans Labrador Highway.

[1995hoo]

....

Growing up and traveling around the Mid Atlantic states, the Governor's name was nearly a guarantee on every state welcome sign, but now it seems I'm seeing them listed less often. Pennsylvania blotted out Ed Rendell's name halfway through his administration to be replaced by "State of Independence", and when I drove up I-83 last week, I noticed that it hadn't been changed to list Tom Corbett either. Is this a trend?

....

I have to think that in days of government belt-tightening and budget woes, eliminating the governor's name is an easy cost savings, even though in the ultimate scheme of things the cost is probably minimal. You have to change the governor's name periodically (especially in Virginia since our constitution prohibits a sitting governor from being re-elected, meaning we have a new governor every four years).

[Brandon]

....

Growing up and traveling around the Mid Atlantic states, the Governor's name was nearly a guarantee on every state welcome sign, but now it seems I'm seeing them listed less often. Pennsylvania blotted out Ed Rendell's name halfway through his administration to be replaced by "State of Independence", and when I drove up I-83 last week, I noticed that it hadn't been changed to list Tom Corbett either. Is this a trend?

....

I have to think that in days of government belt-tightening and budget woes, eliminating the governor's name is an easy cost savings, even though in the ultimate scheme of things the cost is probably minimal. You have to change the governor's name periodically (especially in Virginia since our constitution prohibits a sitting governor from being re-elected, meaning we have a new governor every four years).

However, it became state law in Illinois after Blagojevich was removed from office.  A governor's name can no longer appear on a welcome sign or any other similar type of sign (such as toll plazas) in Illinois.

[Pete from Boston]

Surely, someone must have a photo of the Pennsylvania trooper with a radar gun, and the accompanying list of fines...

[Alps]

I like the way Ohio mounts its signs on the blue arches, if not the signs themselves. I also like the NWT sign on Liard Hwy (BC 29/NT 7), which gives the translation in Slavey below.

[PHLBOS]

Growing up and traveling around the Mid Atlantic states, the Governor's name was nearly a guarantee on every state welcome sign, but now it seems I'm seeing them listed less often. Pennsylvania blotted out Ed Rendell's name halfway through his administration to be replaced by "State of Independence", and when I drove up I-83 last week, I noticed that it hadn't been changed to list Tom Corbett either. Is this a trend?

And I believe Pennsylvania also used to list a menu of fines for various speeds over the limit–a separate sign after the welcome sign. Are there any other states that do or did this?

In Southeastern PA, I don't believe that any of the <i>WELCOME TO PENNSYLVANIA</i> signs (at least along I-95) had the governor's name on them after Schweiker left office (after taking over for Ridge) in 2003.

FYI, those <i>RADAR FOR YOUR PROTECTION</i> signs were taken down once PA started having 65 mph speed limits again circa 1995.

[oscar]

And as of March of 2013...

The "Open For Business" part is definitely new ... and so not an improvement.

West Virginia once had "Open For Business" as its only welcome sign slogan.  Fortunately, that didn't last for long. 

[SP Cook]

The "Open For Business" part is definitely new ... and so not an improvement.

West Virginia once had "Open For Business" as its only welcome sign slogan.  Fortunately, that didn't last for long. 

I believe West Virginia (#49 behind only California in overall business climate, and excepting out the growth, which the state had nothing to do with, in the 3 eastern panhandle DC suburb counties, the only state besides Michigan to lose population in the last Census) and specifically ex-Gov. Photo Joe Manchin (who agrees with you on all important issues of the day, whatever your opinion might be) are the original source of the "Open For Business" foolishness. 

States that really are open TO business, of course, don't have to put up signs to tell motorists that.

I believe the history of this type of deal goes back even into the 40s. 

Back in the day southern counties and cities would tout the virtues of their business climate with signs aimed at northern tourists such as:

"Relocated your business to beautiful Dumptruck County". 

Often with a New Dealish art work of a hardworking (white) guy, a factory and perhaps a dam or lake.  Sometimes with a list of said virtues (low wage "compliant" workforce, limited regulation, abundant water power, cheap electricity, new roads coming, free land, tax breaks, etc)

In the interstate era this became:

"A Certified Business Relocation Area".

Which eventually became:

"A Certified Business Location"

after the open appeal to northern mill owners became obsolete. 

Here in WV, EVERY county is a "A Certified Business Location".  Even places with no roads one can drive on at more than 40 MPH, no industry other than coal and timber (or even not that) and where a single grocery store with 30 employees is the largest private employer in the county.  Similar in Kentucky. 

Its more or less a joke. 

As to the general WV sign, I hate it.   The "Wild, Wonderful" is a tired, and never very accurate, slogan dreamed up by some long-dead consultant 40 years ago. 

[agentsteel53]

"West Virginia: not quite as flat as Kansas"

what is the largest relatively flat spot in the state?  I am looking at a terrain map and I don't see any flat spots.  impressive!

[Alps]

"West Virginia: not quite as flat as Kansas"

what is the largest relatively flat spot in the state?  I am looking at a terrain map and I don't see any flat spots.  impressive!

Toward southeastern Ohio, maybe along the I-64 corridor.

[Scott5114]

Yeah, it's a particularly stupid slogan. Every state is open for business.

Except Oklahoma, which, when you bring up the online business registration program on the Tax Commission website, tells you it's "down for upgrades" for some indefinite period and directs you to print out a PDF that you snail mail.