Elephant Car Wash (Demolished)
Seattle, WA
Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo

For years, the giant pink Elephant Car Wash sign was one of Seattle's best-known roadside landmarks. The rotating elephant, outlined in bright neon and surrounded by hundreds of chasing lights, could be spotted from several blocks away. Even if your car didn't need washing, it was hard to resist slowing down for a look. It was one of those signs that seemed to put a smile on everyone's face.

The downtown Elephant Car Wash opened in the 1950s and quickly became part of Seattle's roadside culture. Designed by local neon artist Beatrice Haverfield, the cheerful elephant turned an ordinary business into something people remembered. It became one of those places visitors photographed, locals pointed out to friends, and travelers looked forward to seeing whenever they passed through town.

Elephant Car Wash (Demolished)
Seattle, WA
Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo

The sign was especially impressive after dark. With the elephant slowly turning above the street and the neon glowing against the Seattle sky, it was easy to see why it became such a familiar landmark. It wasn't the biggest sign in town, but it was certainly one of the most recognizable.

The downtown wash is gone now, but the elephant's story didn't end there.

UPDATE: Here's an updated photo of the Elephant Car Wash from 2015.

Elephant Car Wash (Demolished)
Seattle, WA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Word is the Elephant Car Wash on Battery Street near Denny Way will close its doors permanently after filing a demolition permit in early October. The car wash which has been around since 1951 is closing due to increased crime, homelessness, and drugs in the area according to its owners. The sign will be saved and restored by Seattle's Museum of History & Industry. 10-20

UPDATE: The downtown Elephant Car Wash closed in 2020, and the original building has been demolished. The famous pink elephant sign was restored and is now on public display. 07-26

Public Market
Seattle, WA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

No visit to Seattle feels complete without spending a little time at Public Market. The famous clock and neon sign have been welcoming visitors for generations, and they're just as much a part of the city as the Space Needle. Photo date: 09-08

Pike Place Market has been drawing crowds since 1907, and it's easy to see why. Fresh seafood, flowers, produce, bakeries, bookstores, and dozens of small shops all seem to blend together into one lively neighborhood. It's a place where tourists mingle with locals, street musicians perform on the sidewalks, and there's always something interesting happening around the next corner.

Public Market
Seattle, WA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The big attraction for me has always been the sign. The glowing red letters and oversized clock have become one of Seattle's most recognizable landmarks, watching over the market from above. Day or night, it's one of those scenes that instantly tells you where you are.

Even after several visits, it's hard to walk through the market without finding something new. One trip might be spent browsing produce stands, another watching fishmongers toss salmon through the air, and another simply wandering the narrow passages and taking in the sights. It's one of those rare places that's just as much fun to explore as it is to photograph.

Public Market
Seattle WA
Photo courtesy Jeannie Black

Whether you're visiting Seattle for the first time or have been here many times before, Pike Place Market is still one of those places that belongs on every itinerary.

UPDATE: Pike Place Market remains one of Seattle's busiest attractions, and the famous Public Market Center sign continues to light up the skyline. 07-26

Loback Meat Co
Seattle, WA
Photo courtesy Gorb70

Walking through Pike Place Market, it's easy to spend so much time looking at the vendors that you forget to look up. Hanging overhead is the vintage Loback Meat Co. sign, one of the market's classic pieces of neon that has outlasted the business it once advertised. 03-06

Loback Meat Co. served customers here for more than 40 years before closing in 1989. Fortunately, the colorful double-sided sign stayed behind, giving today's visitors a glimpse of what the market looked like decades ago. It's one of several old signs that help make Pike Place feel more like a living time capsule than a tourist attraction.

The next time you wander through the market, take a moment to look overhead. Some of Seattle's best neon isn't outside, it's hanging right in the middle of the crowd.

UPDATE: Loback Meat Co. is long gone, but the vintage neon sign still hangs inside Pike Place Market. 07-26

Fresh
Seattle, WA
Photo courtesy Chris Richey

Here is another neon sign from the Seattle Public Market. Here's just one of many "fishy" signs in Seattle, most of which sport working neon. Other signs include the Market Grill and University Seafood marquees below.