Where in the U.S. Are These Well-Known Signs?

By: J.P. Naomi
Image: Wiki Commons by Ammodramus

About This Quiz

What jogs our memory, points our direction and ignites excitement in our hearts? Signs, of course!

All across the United States, signs point the way - sometimes to where we seek and sometimes to where we find. Whether we're headed to a sporting event, famous restaurant, historical landmark or national park, all it takes is one sign and we know ... we've arrived. So tell us, do you have what it takes to recognize some of the most popular signs throughout the United States? 

Throughout history, many signs have come and gone. Others have been upgraded or modernized, and still others have remained the same year after year. And there's something special about these OGs. Original signs, like Nathan's Famous hot dog stand or the entrance to Lambeau Field, do more than just direct you, they incite emotions that people of all generations know and share - excitement, nostalgia and pride. 

From Hollywood to the Gateway Arch and Randy's Donuts to Bourbon Street, we've got the nation covered, and only the most well-traveled will ace this quiz. Are you ready to coast along Route 66 as we cross the country to find these signs? If you can tell us where they are located, it might just be a sign that you are very smart.

Did you know that Radio City Music Hall was built in the early 1930s? The tall signs bearing the hall's name are each 90 feet in height.

Did you know that the Hollywood sign, located on Mount Lee in Los Angeles, was originally created as a real estate advertisement? It originally read "Hollywoodland." Standing 45 feet tall and stretching 352 feet wide, the sign was designated as a historic-cultural monument in 1973.

Did you know that most of the streets in New Orleans are named for French royal houses and Catholic saints? Bourbon Street was named for France's ruling family from the 16th to 18th centuries, the House of Bourbon.

The famous red Public Market Center sign was erected in 1907 and is home to one of the oldest public farmers' markets in the United States. Did you know it is also the 33rd most visited tourist attraction in the world?

Did you know that the Grand Canyon is so large, it stretches over two counties? Located in Coconino and Mohave counties, the Grand Canyon receives about six million visitors each year - that's a lot of photos in front of the sign!

Follow the sign to Pier 39, and you're in for a big treat. On Pier 39, you can shop, eat, play and even see some major San Francisco attractions, including the Golden Gate Bridge.

Elvis Presley bought Graceland for just $102.500. Of course, he added custom decor and many amenities, including two swimming pools, a wrought-iron gate and a racquetball court.

The official motto of the state of Indiana, "Crossroads of America" references the days of cross-country travel by horse and buggy. In the early 1900s, the nation's two major thoroughfares servicing east-west and north-south met in Indiana.

Did you know that Martin Luther King Jr. served as co-pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, with his father, Martin Luther King Sr., from 1960 to 1968? Both the sign and the church are a tribute to their lives and legacy.

Every state has their own highway welcome sign, but only one can boast the words "The First State." Until 2015, Delaware also used to describe their state as a "Small Wonder" on their welcome sign - referencing their size and contributions to the nation.

The Great Continental Divide runs from the Bering Sea down to the Strait of Magellan. Did you know there is also a Continental Divide Trail - the scenic route, if you will - for those brave enough to conquer the length of the trail within the United States?

Lined with hotels, gas stations and restaurants, the Miracle Mile of downtown Tucson, Arizona, is no stranger to neon, Western imagery and historic signs. The Ghost Ranch Lodge & Restaurant is now the Ghost Ranch Lodge Apartments, though the half-lit neon sign remains.

Walmart was founded by Sam Walton in 1962. The company's headquarters is located in Bentonville, Arkansas. With more than 11,000 stores worldwide, the company's blue, white and yellow-sun signs have been in use since 2008.

A smash box office hit of the late 1980s, "Field of Dreams" was filmed in Dubuque County, Iowa, on the property of Don Lansing. Since the success of the film, the field has become a popular tourist attraction, seeing close to 100,000 visitors per year.

Will Rogers was a famous comedian, and his memorial museum is located in Claremore, Oklahoma. His memorial highway is also known as the Mother Road, Main Street of America and Route 66. It covers nearly 2,500 miles, from Chicago to Santa Monica. Route 66 travels through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

Located at 5100 Las Vegas Boulevard South, this famous sign was designed by Betty Willis and built in 1959. Did you know it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2009?

Did you know the New Hampshire state legislature voted in 1971 to replace the word "Scenic" with "Live Free or Die" on state license plates? While some drivers don't appreciate driving around with the word "Die" on their cars, many New Hampshire residents feel proud and independent.

Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers and known as the "Frozen Tundra," is the oldest, longest-running stadium in the National Football League. The stadium's entrance sign is a reminder to all who enter that this city is rich in history, pride and, most importantly, championships.

Remember the phrase "World's Fair or Bust"? In 1939, the Saturday Evening Post featured two cars departing in opposite directions from Kinsley, Kansas - Midway, U.S.A. They were each headed 1,561 miles to the World's Fair - one in New York and the other in San Francisco.

No matter how much snow or how much foliage there may be in Waterbury, there are always green pastures and blue skies at the Ben & Jerry's Factory, open seven days a week, 362 days per year. Keep your eye out for the cows and head on in for your guided tour.

Did you know that Broadway travels 33 miles, from lower Westchester County in the north to the Bronx in the south? Its most famous stretch is in Times Square, the epicenter of 41 theaters and endless dreams.

Opened in 1989, the Civil Rights Memorial commemorates the lives of individuals who were killed in the name of equality for all. Known as the Civil Rights Martyrs, they include John Earl Reese, Willie Brewster and Cynthia Wesley.

The University of Notre Dame has used this motto since the mid-1980s, but did you know that the University of Oklahoma has been using it since the 1940s? Both teams enjoy the tradition of touching their version of the sign as they head down the tunnel onto the field. So what happens when they play each other?

Located near Charlottesville, Monticello was Thomas Jefferson's tobacco and crop plantation, rich in architecture and design. Approximately 130 slaves were required to run the plantation during Jefferson's lifetime.

Did you know that Glacier National Park contains two mountain ranges and more than 130 lakes? With nearly three million visitors to the park each year, it's a good thing there are seven entrances - with signs.

Not a beach but a commercial neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, Coney Island is home to the first world-famous Nathan's hot dog stand. Its first restaurant remains today, on the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues.

Since 1875, Louisville, Kentucky, has been the home of Churchill Downs and site of the Kentucky Derby. Did you know that more than 150,000 people file in for the Derby every year? That's a lot of eyes on the sign, we mean prize!

Designed by Richard Morris Hunt and completed in 1895, the Breakers mansion features 70 rooms on 14 acres of land. As if the 30-foot-high entrance gate isn't noticeable, the famous entrance sign directs visitors through the appropriate doors.

Did you know that the Gateway Arch is the tallest arch in the world? It was built to commemorate the expansion of the United States from East to West. It is located in St. Louis, Missouri, on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

Beverly Hills is located between Los Angeles and West Hollywood. The city's welcome sign was featured in the opening credits of the hit television drama "Beverly Hills, 90210," which aired from 1990 to 2000.

Ketchikan, Alaska, is not just the Salmon Capital of the World, it is also in competition to be the rain capital of the world. Did you know that the city sees more than 150 inches of rain each year? The famous welcome sign stretches across Mission Street on Revillagigedo Island.

The Wright Brothers National Memorial is located at the top of Kill Devil Hill in North Carolina. It was on Kill Devil Hill where the Wright brothers conducted many of their glider tests before taking their inaugural flight in 1903.

Because why wouldn't you want to visit a potato museum? The famous Idaho Potato Museum of Blackfoot, Idaho, opened in 1988 and sees thousands of visitors each year. Did you know that the museum is home to the world's largest potato crisp (not chip), measuring 25 by 14 inches?

The Wrigley Field sign includes an information marquee as well as the words "Home of the Chicago Cubs." Did you know that the Chicago Bears played football there until 1970?

Did you know that the original Mall of America entrance sign was replaced during the 2014 expansion project? Since then, the mall has seen the construction of a new hotel and a new parking garage, as well as plans for an indoor water park.

Ever wonder why Reno is nicknamed "The Biggest Little City in the World"? It was Reno's way of competing with the big cities, such as New York City and Chicago, in the early 1900s. The "city" hoped to attract new residents, despite its lack of skyscrapers, population and public transportation systems.

Randy's Donuts was founded in 1953 by Russell Wendell. Did you know that the Randy's Donuts sign is so large, it can be seen from planes landing at the Los Angeles airport? The iconic sign measures 32 feet in diameter. In 2019, it was temporarily repainted blue and gold to celebrate the Rams' participation in the Super Bowl.

If you knew this was a trick question, give yourself some bonus points. Up until October 2018, you COULD find this banner in Cleveland. But guess what happened when Lebron signed with the Los Angeles Lakers? The banner came down.

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