History of Signs

Signs have been around as long as people have needed information.

History of Signs

Signs have been around as long as people have needed information. Roman had stone columns erected throughout their empire giving the distance and direction to Rome. Archeologists have discovered signs made of intricate mosaic works in the ruins of Pompeii, one even read, Beware of Dog. Multidirectional signs at intersections were used in the Middle Ages to give directions to cities and towns. Neon lamp signs were introduced at the 1893 World's Fair, Chicago, Illinois, by Nikola Tesla. The first commercial neon sign was sold in 1912 to a Paris barber. With the development of the automobiles, traffic signs became a necessity. At the 1908 International Road Congress in Rome, the basic pattern for most traffic signs was established. The first electric traffic sign was invented by an American and in Salt Lake City in 1912, Lester Wire installed the first red-green electric traffic lights. Then in New York City and Detroit, the first three-color traffic lights
were introduced in 1920. The amber light was said to have been added, (though I cannot verify this) to give drivers the opportunity to stop. In 1920, the Model-T's maximum speed was 45 mph.