SIGNS OF THE TIMES
As the next component in discovering and sharing photos and stories of Missouri’s historic places, MMSC is launching the Signs of the Times photo contest to create a poster featuring vintage, rehabbed, and new signage in Missouri.
Signs have provided people with direction and information about the places they work, shop, and visit for centuries. They influence how we enjoy and explore historic commercial districts consciously and subconsciously with their visual design. We imagine they say “check this out” each time someone passes by. In Missouri, countless unique and memorable signs are displayed just as they have been since their installation, serving the same purpose to enrich guest’s experiences with their visual details.
The Signs of the Times photo contest provides an opportunity for community members to share memories they have of a location in their downtown centered around its signage. This signage can be vintage, rehabbed, or new including: neon, ghost signs, wayfinding or street signs, murals, or business signs.
We are excited to discover and share the stories behind the signage that you submit! If only these signs could talk about the variety of events that happened around them. From the many memories made, the shop owners cutting the ribbon on their first day open for business, the impromptu road trip pit stop that turned into an experience of a lifetime, or a couples first kiss; Missouri is a special place full of stories to be shared. We can connect to the people, events, and culture that have shaped our Missouri communities through the memories and stories that are in our hearts and in the physical locations that persevere.
Round 1 Gallery
MMSC launched round one of the Signs of the Times photo contest to create a poster featuring vintage, rehabbed, and new signage in Missouri and collect photos and stories for the “Memories on Main Street” anthology from March 6th to June 15th. The submissions were displayed in a gallery at the 2025 Missouri’s Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference in St. Charles, where attendees selected six winners to be featured in the “Signs of the Time” poster for Preservation Month 2026. View the signs submitted by individuals earlier this year and read the stories that were submitted with them.
Created by Fossil Forge Design from salvaged numerals from the old EastGlen 16 Theater, these bright neon numbers illuminate the alleyway where Downtown Lee's Summit Main Street's office resides. This alleyway was once a rough pass-through, and now it has been transformed into a vibrant meeting place for many of the experiences and activities that Downtown Lee's Summit hosts throughout the year. Why 816, you ask? Well, 816 is Downtown Lee's Summit's area code.
South of St. Louis, in the historic town of Kimmswick, sits the Blue Owl Restaurant and Bakery. This small but mighty restaurant was my first job. Its nice wooden sign outside has since been replaced due to the elements, but the memories of working almost five years at my first job still remain. From the Apple Butter Festival and Strawberry Festival to sandbagging the levee to special moments, this sign and place have witnessed monumental and sentimental moments as a cornerstone experience of Kimmswick. The Blue Owl attracts and welcomes thousands to the area with its charm and amazing staff.
The Creamery is Odessa's premier ice cream location with many flavors to choose from, a charming old soda fountain bar and decor, booths to sit in, and a jukebox to play. My family enjoys an ice cream treat after kids' sporting events or just for fun.
During the late '90s and early 2000s, I would pass by the Arrowhead Motel and its wonderful neon sign on my way across town or when I was returning from a trip at night. More recently, my drives past the Arrowhead are when I am going to and from work. Occasionally, I go out of my way just to drive past the office and outlying cabins and structures of this once legendary roadside motel on historic Highway 40. Despite its decay as the years advanced, driving past the Arrowhead Motel was a visual treat and a reminder of what the Business Loop used to look like. This image of the motel’s roadside neon sign was taken on color slide film sometime between August of 1999 and September of 2000. At the time I made the image, I knew that the neon sign would not be illuminated for much longer, but I couldn’t imagine what the end of the Business Loop would look like without its warm glow.
I have always been enamored by the glow of a neon sign. The color, warmth, and magnetism of neon sets it apart from all other light sources. This road trip takes us to a stretch of Highway 65 on an April evening in 1999. It was my first year working as a photographer at MU in Columbia, and during spring break, I decided to take a road trip and drive down Route 66 in search of places to photograph. I remember driving all the way to the middle of Oklahoma over the course of three days before turning around and coming back up Highway 65. Driving through Buffalo, Missouri, at night, I was captivated by the neon glow of the Buffalo Motel. Like all of my photographs taken at this time, this image was captured using color slide film and a Nikon camera. The trip up and down Missouri’s highways yielded a number of photographs of roadside locations and structures now gone from our cultural landscape. This image of the Buffalo Motel neon sign was one of my favorites.
I was born and raised in Cape Girardeau and lived on the 500 block of Frederick. The building was on my walking route to all the places I visited in the North. Broadway for movies, North Street, where my relatives lived, and my friends. The new courthouse was built, so I thought they should renovate the building and get the business of all the attorneys coming to court. They didn’t. The building remained. I have read that it is known as the Wood Building and was constructed between 1908 and 1910; railroad tracks ran near it. It is said to represent what was then called the “Two-Part Commercial Block,” and our Greyhound Bus station and Police Department/Fire Department were in the same locations across the street and down just a way. In December 2003, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places and received a renewed Stag Mural designation. The building has served as an inn, hotel, tavern, bar, and pub and may have been a house of ill repute. One thing we know is that it has been a welcoming location for many in earlier years. The historic value shines brightly with the fresh sign. It caught my eye, so I'm sure it will be noticed by others.
The recent demolition of a building in the heart of downtown Clayton, Missouri's gleaming business and financial district, revealed a surprise window into the business activities of a much earlier era, likely the 1920s.
The Crestwood Bowl, located at 9822 Watson Rd., has been a fixture on "Old Route 66" for several years, and its neon sign continues to remind us of the history and significance of Route 66 in this area of St. Louis County.
This photograph was taken on color slide film sometime between the fall of 1998 and the early winter of 2000. This was a time in my creative career when I was photographing various locations and scenes in Colombia. I was fascinated with neon, wherever I could find it emitting its warm, colorful glow. Some of the better neons in Columbia at the time included Ernie’s Café, the legendary neon of Peking on Ninth, The Broadway Diner, the Bull Pen Café, its pink neon letters beckoning travelers off the highway, the Eastwood Motel, perhaps Columbia’s loftiest neon sign ever erected, the vintage neon of the Arrow Head Motel, and the neon interiors of Ernie’s and Booches. For some inspired reason, I made a point of hunting down and photographing as many of Columbia’s neon signs as I could, especially between 1998 and 2003. That brings us back to Ernie’s on this particular night, it's classic and elegant interior clean and prepared for the next morning’s breakfast crowd, the countertop set with salt, pepper, sugar and Tabasco, a large stack of paper coffee filters quietly awaiting use, and the neon glow of the Ernie’s sign reflected softly in the polished Formica of a tabletop.
In 2012, Main Street directors and volunteers arrived at the boutique bowling alley, Flamingo Bowl, located on Washington Avenue in downtown St. Louis, for MMSC’s Evening Opening Reception at the“Get Plugged In Downtown Conference.” Walking into the renowned Art Deco decor and vibrant bowling lounge, sets the mood just right for networking and fun. Grabbing their bowling shoes, delicious food, and signature cocktails, conference attendees networked in the cozy lounge areas, around the pool tables, while bowling on the state-of-the-art bowling lanes. It is clear why, since opening in 2007, the Flamingo Bowl has been a vital part of downtown St. Louis, playing a significant role in the revitalization of the downtown area through its support of the local community and attraction of outside visitors. Today, Flamingo Bowl remains a cherished destination that brings people together in the heart of downtown St. Louis.
For nearly a century, the Hotel Bothwell has been a proud symbol of Sedalia’s heritage—an elegant reminder of the city’s heyday as a bustling railroad hub. It continues to bring people together, from housing Missouri State Fair visitors to serving as the centerpiece of our annual Thanksgiving celebration, capped with a fireworks display to launch the holiday season. Its walls hold stories from the past, but its spirit is still very much alive at the heart of our community.
This photo shows the entrance to Hendricks BBQ. The vintage-style sign was designed to complement the historic character of the 1883 municipal waterworks building and the surrounding district. The exposed brick and classic signage reflect the era in which the building was constructed, preserving the charm of St. Charles.
This photo is of the entrance of the International Tap House. The neon sign was designed to reflect the era in which the building was constructed. Above the neon, the Bank of Lee's Summit name remains as a testament to the original tenant of the building, forever etched in terracotta.
Historic Old City Hall is "where it all began." It has been many things over its lifetime, including a fire station, offices, and an event space. Most recently, the back half of the building is home to Main Street Theater, a local nonprofit stage company, hosting four plays each year since its opening. The front half of the building is home to the Belton Museum and a collection of local artifacts dating back to the 19th century. While this sign is relatively new, it features a mix of current and vintage design elements, as well as period-specific architectural elements. It pays homage to what was while providing an appropriate way-finding element consistent with the tone of this particular property.
The Odessa Ice Cream building is the only building in our community currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was once the location for making ice cream for the Missouri State Fair. The building is across the street from our post office, so I pass by often and enjoy the history that was made there. Cheers to ice cream!
The Park Plaza neon sign, which welcomed travelers at the intersection of Watson Road and Lindbergh Road (two Old Route 66 "alignments") in south St. Louis County, has been reconditioned and reinstalled at its original location, which is now the Holiday Inn Route 66! This intersection is also the site of the first "cloverleaf" west of the Mississippi!
Spencer's Grill, located on Kirkwood Rd. (an old Route 66 alignment) has been a landmark in Kirkwood's historic downtown district for over 75 years.
There is only one answer to "Where can we eat on Main Street?" That isn't because there is only one restaurant on Main Street. Tara's Cafe is the malt and soda shop everyone remembers from childhood. A landmark all its own, Tara's is one of the very few non-chain eateries in town, featuring homemade desserts and old-time favorites like loose meat sandwiches. The tall, colonial-inspired overhang and sign are a beacon among the four short blocks that make up Main Street.
This unique floor sign, surrounded by tiles, is one of five remaining in Odessa's historic downtown. When their front entry step was made, each business had its name embedded within the exposed aggregate. It was a charming and long-lasting way of name recognition. Although new businesses now occupy each storefront, the original owner still has a place in our downtown area. It is fun to walk along and see these special signs as we shop here now.
Every summer during my childhood, my family and I would go to the best free Zoo in the country, the St. Louis Zoo. Most days, we would pack PB&J sandwiches in a cooler for lunch, but on special occasions, we would drive to a part of northern St. Louis to Crown Candy and splurge on a spectacular lunch. I would always order the best BLT sandwich and follow it up with their famous shakes, which came in a glass cup. The extra that didn’t fit would come in the metal cup used to blend the shake. Eating here with my family was the best, and we kids would joke about trying their milkshake challenge one day. Today, they are over 100 years old, and I recently had the opportunity to share the experience with my coworkers. This is a must-try location for anyone visiting St. Louis.
The Bank of Washington started with five community friends who knew our community needed a strong, safe and reliable bank. With the trust of the people, they founded the bank in 1877. Now over a century later, they are still holding strong and strive to continue to offer the best financial opportunities, trust and service you could ever imagine! In 1959 the Bank of Washington was the second bank in the state to receive approval from the Missouri Division of Finance to build a drive up teller window. As legend has it, the Bank of Washington was the first in the State of Missouri to build and implement its drive up teller window.
Benito's Inc, located at 116 Elm St, Washington, MO, is a rising star in the local pizza scene. Known for its hand-tossed crust and abundant fresh toppings, the restaurant has quickly become a favorite among locals. Customers rave about the warm, friendly atmosphere and exemplary service, with many praising the staff's commitment to customer satisfaction, even going so far as to provide complimentary pizzas when issues arise. The thin, crunchy crust adds to the appeal, as does the quality of the ingredients. Benito's Inc is not just about delicious pizza; it's a testament to authentic hospitality in Washington.
The commercial work of Bryan has graced the pages of national magazines, international advertising campaigns, CD covers, posters, and book covers from Agatha Christie to the cover of “Scarlett” the sequel to “Gone With the Wind”. Since graduating from the Art Center College of Design in 1983 his artwork has been represented by Bernstein & Andriulli in New York, Ron Sweet in San Francisco, and Foster Represents in St. Louis. Recent corporate and institutional commissions include murals and large scale paintings for: The Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, The Missouri Botanical Garden’s permanent collection, The Westward Expansion Memorial Museum at the Arch, Novus International Inc., and the Danforth Plant Science Center. Additional patrons include Disney, Estee Lauder, Warner Bros., Toblerone – Switzerland, Universal Studios, IBM, Nike, Sony Music Corp., Anhueser Busch, and many private collections. Awards include – The Society of Illustrators-New York awards, Print Magazine Awards, Communication Arts Awards, and Graphis-Switzerland.
Building built in 1860 and it became a restaurant in 1930. It is Washington's oldest restaurant and the place to be for breakfast!
The first train arrived in Washington, Missouri, in 1855. That event confirmed it's position as the major transportation center in Franklin County. A year later, in 1865, the present frame depot was constructed just west of the foot of Elm Street. The frame MO Pacific depot served for 58 years as Washington's transportation center, from the close of the Civil War until it was replaced by the more modern brick depot in 1923. The frame depot had separate waiting rooms for men and women in one half of the building and handled baggage and freight in the other half. At the time Missouri Pacific began construction on the brick depot, the frame depot was relocated from its site at the west edge of Elm Street to its present location at the foot of Cedar Street on the north side of Front Street. Ownership of the depot buildings passed from Union Pacific Systems to the City of Washington in 1985. Renovation work on the freight depot proceeded in cooperation with the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce. This 1865 Missouri Pacific depot is the oldest depot building still remaining on an active rail line in the State of Missouri.
Downtown Washington Inc. began as a merchants committee in the 1950s and was officially incorporated as Washington Downtown Shopping Center, Inc. in 1973. It became a pilot community for the Missouri Main Street Program in 1989, shortened its name to Downtown Washington, Inc., and began a long-term effort to revitalize the downtown area through projects. This sign is a testament to the decades of dedicated volunteers who invested in Downtown Washington's Main Street program and community making it a designated Main Street.
Since 1940, this advertisement for Coca-Cola has been a part of downtown Cape Girardeau. It was rehabbed in 1978, and more recently in 2023 due to a preservation effort by Old Town Cape. The sign serves as a look into the economic history of downtown Cape Girardeau, seeing that the popular soda is quite a bit more than five cents now.
Zickfield’s Jeweler has been a staple on the Main Street of Cape Girardeau for just over 85 years. In 1967, the business moved from 45 North Main to 29 North Main, due to the business outgrowing its original building. The sign was put up in 1968 when the business opened up in its new location and has since became a character defining sign on the Main Street landscape.
Buckner Ragsdale’s was a prominent business within Cape Girardeau from 1907 to 1983. Even though the original business is gone, it has left a permanent mark on downtown. These two signs were installed in the late 1940s and were later rehabbed along with the building in 2023. The large sign that covers the building’s main street façade is composed of a historic material named vitrolite, a form of reflective glass, while the other sign is made of sheet metal.
This advertisement for Dempsey Grocer’s was revealed in 2019 when a metal balcony was removed from the building. Dempsey Grocer was a foundational business in Cape Girardeau from 1870 to about 1925. The sign was most likely painted closer to 1870 making it one of, if not the oldest painted sign within Cape Girardeau. Old Town Cape has expressed interest in preserving this beautiful piece of advertising.
Bob Fuller established Bob’s Shoe Service in 1953 at 113 Independence, specializing in repairing shoes and leather goods. He relocated to 515 Broadway in 1968 where this wonderful sign advertising the business was installed. The business sells footwear and clothing, and has provided a repair service for leather goods to Cape Girardeau for just over 70 years.
Shivelbine’s music has served as the main music store in Cape Girardeau since 1949. Their rotating sign, that has since become the symbol of the business’s store front, was installed in 1969. Considered one of the best modern signs in Cape Girardeau, it received an award from Old Town Cape in 2012 for their efforts in preservation.
Coalter Insurance is located within Jackson's historic Uptown District. Their sign refelcts Coalter Insurance's attitude towards this building they purchased and rehabbed as it is new adn modern with a vintage feel. Kaci Hubbard included, "I love that the insurance company took this old building and rehabbed it with a modern touch, but left its historic character in tact, including a ghost sign for "Wagner Machine and Welding Works" that occupied the building in the 70s." The sign is very eye catching allowing people to easily find the building. It's interesting and unique design also adds a lot of flare to Uptown Jackson. The Coalter insurance building and sign sits right around the corner from the infamous "Horse in the Window Building", which is a life size horse in a storefront window. Kaci Hubbard remisced, "When I was growing up the "Horse in the Window Building" was a hardware store, but originally it was a harness & saddle shop - and the ghost sign is still there on that one too!"
Originally known as The Brueggenjohann Building, this office/residential building was constructed in 1927 by Walter Brueggenjohann. Walter and his brother, Hugo, owned H & W Brueggenjohann Plumbing & Repairing in 1924 located at 812 W. Fifth Street. Hugo left the company in early 1927 for another venture. Walter then dropped the H from the business name, and invested in the construction of this building where he moved both his business and his family. In 1931, Walter invented a water heater called STA-HOT and changed the name of his business to STA-HOT Water Heater Corp: Plumbing and Heating Contractors. He sold the building to Jul. H. Conrads in 1937. The Miller Press had moved in by 1940 and put up this amazing neon sign. In 1955, Walter Brueggenjohann was contracted to install a warm air heating system in the city auditorium. The building owner plans is in the process of restoring the sign as of December of 2025.
Since 1923, The Old Dutch Hotel and Tavern has offered the community a place to gather, relax, and enjoy great food and drinks on the corner of Third and Elm. The owner, Ben Wunderlich, and his team revamped and reimagined the Tavern in 2011 bringing it into the 21st century with all the classic charm in tact. From the tin ceiling and belt driven fans, to the distressed oak floors, to the original thirty-two foot oak bar, the Old Dutch has priceless character many new businesses seek to replicate.
Even after the deadliest tornado in the history of Missouri, there is a glimmer of hope. This Joplin High School sign shows minimal damage, considering the 200 mph wind speeds that it withstood. Just a few strips of duct tape has replaced four letters of the town's name showing that no matter what Joplin has endured, there is hope that we can rebuild from the devastating storm.
Round 2
Round two of the Signs of the Times photo contest begins August 8th and will continue our effort to create a poster featuring vintage, rehabbed, and new signage in Missouri and collect photos and stories for the “Memories on Main Street” anthology. This second round will close on November 13th. MMSCs’ staff will select 10 winners to be featured in the “Signs of the Times” poster for Preservation Month 2026.
How to Participate
- Visit a historic commercial district. See our map of communities that have Main Street designations to know where to start. Submissions are not limited to Main Street communities.
- Take a photo of a vintage, rehabbed, or new sign or find a stunning picture you have in your camera roll from a previous visit to a historic commercial district in Missouri.
- Submit the photo, a short description, reflection on why this door is meaningful to you or the community, or story behind the door, and your contact information through our contest form on our website between August 9th and close on November 13th.
- MMSC will review submissions, select, and notify ten winners to be featured on a Signs of the Times poster alongside the winners from round one.
Round 2 Submission Details
- Each submission should be focused on signage that is vintage, rehabbed, or new including: neon, ghost signs, wayfinding or street signs, murals, or business signs that are unique, or meaningful in a historic commercial district in Missouri. Additionally, each submission should include a short bio statement with mention of your connection to Missouri and a narrative that will serve as the foundation for a caption for the judges to learn more about why this photo was submitted.
- AI Clause: Missouri Main Street Connection seeks submissions that express the memories and emotions that are unique to each person’s human experience, and therefore only original human creative works will be accepted. The use of AI is strictly prohibited. If your submission is found to violate this policy, any submission by the offender will be disqualified and be denied from inclusion in the gallery, poster, and publication. Spellcheck and grammar tools on your finished description is not AI and is allowed.
- Intellectual Property: By submitting to Missouri Main Street Connection’s for the “Signs of the Times” contest, you grant MMSC publishing rights in perpetuity for the materials included in the submission. You will retain the copyright for your contributions.
- Questions: Contact Logan at logan@momainstreet.org