Holiday Inn "Great" Sign, circa 1960
Add to SetSummary
When the first Holiday Inns opened in 1952, guests at roadside hotels were mostly traveling families who couldn't always plan their stops ahead of time. This sign -- taller and flashier than some but not radically different from other blinking neon highway signs -- was designed to be spotted from the new interstates. As Holiday Inns multiplied, the sign became a message: "Turn here for a predictable, quality experience."
When the first Holiday Inns opened in 1952, guests at roadside hotels were mostly traveling families who couldn't always plan their stops ahead of time. This sign -- taller and flashier than some but not radically different from other blinking neon highway signs -- was designed to be spotted from the new interstates. As Holiday Inns multiplied, the sign became a message: "Turn here for a predictable, quality experience."
Artifact
Advertising sign
Date Made
circa 1960
Keywords
On Exhibit
at Henry Ford Museum in Driving America
Object ID
87.159.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Holiday Inns, Inc.
Material
Metal
Glass (Material)
Neon
Color
Green
Yellow
Dimensions
Height: 17 ft
Width: 13 ft
Inscriptions
On faces: HOLIDAY / INN On attraction panel (12/30/2010) : THE NATIONS INNKEEPER On reverse attraction panel (12/30/2010): WELCOME
Share Anywhere
Use this Artifact Card to share this great find with others. From historic images to vivid descriptions, a record of rich detail is bundled inside a single card.
