How Did Route Shields get their shape?

[agentsteel53]

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.

[The High Plains Traveler]

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.

[Alps]

the treasury seal was very much a familiar shape by 1862.



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.

[roadman65]

What is the reason behind Viriginia's shield for their state highways.  Also why they use the circle for their secondary highways?

[GaryV]

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).

[Duke87]

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.

[briantroutman]

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.

[NE2]

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

[mcdonaat]

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.

[luokou]

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.  The modern route shield is pretty much the shape of the cutout sans eagle and border.

[SFPredsFan]

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.

[Brandon]

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.

[bing101]

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.

[agentsteel53]

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??)

[agentsteel53]

what 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.


not sure how VA came about, but it seems to be a common design for signs as well as bridge plaques.

[agentsteel53]

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


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.



here is an old Miss for reference:

[agentsteel53]

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:



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...

[hbelkins]

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

[NE2]

I think Washington used a triangle before beheading George.

[agentsteel53]

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.

[NE2]

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.

[agentsteel53]

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?

[hotdogPi]

It says "evacuation". Evacuation routes are probably triangles.

[Scott5114]

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

[Alps]

IA would be good with a state outline and so would MT.