Union Station
Portland, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Few railroad stations are as recognizable as Portland's Union Station. Rising above the city skyline, the clock tower and its famous "Go By Train" neon have welcomed travelers for generations. Photo date: 03-06

Union Station opened in 1896 and remains the oldest major passenger rail terminal in continuous use on the West Coast. The familiar neon slogan wasn't added until 1948, but it quickly became one of Portland's best-known landmarks. Day or night, it's one of those signs that instantly tells you where you are.

While countless passengers have passed through the station over the years, the glowing tower has become just as memorable as the trains themselves. Whether arriving by rail or simply driving through downtown, it's one of Portland's true roadside icons.

UPDATE: Union Station continues serving Amtrak passengers, and the famous "Go By Train" neon still lights up the Portland skyline. 07-26

Clackamas Auto Parts
Oregon City, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

It's not every day you find an auto parts store with a sign this memorable. The Clackamas Auto Parts sign lights up Main Street with bright neon and a little classic automobile perched on top, making it one of Oregon City's best roadside eye-catchers. Photo date: 03-06

The family-owned business has been serving the community since 1934, and the vintage sign has become just as familiar as the store itself. The little car outlined in neon gives it a personality that's hard to forget, especially after dark when the whole sign comes to life.

Classic signs like this are becoming harder to find, which makes this one well worth slowing down for if you're passing through downtown Oregon City.

UPDATE: Clackamas Auto Parts remains in business, and its vintage neon sign continues to brighten Main Street. 07-26

Bread of Life Mission
Seattle, WA
Photo courtesy Gorb70

Tucked into Seattle's historic Pioneer Square is one of the city's most unusual neon signs. The Bread of Life Mission sign has welcomed visitors for decades with its glowing image of Jesus and the simple message, "Come Unto Me." Photo date: 03-06

The mission has been serving Seattle's homeless and needy since 1939 and has called this corner home for generations. While many old neon signs advertised motels, restaurants, or taverns, this one stands out for a very different reason. It's a rare example of religious neon that has survived the changing downtown landscape.

Whether you're exploring Pioneer Square for its historic buildings or its vintage signs, this one is worth looking up to see.

UPDATE: Bread of Life Mission continues serving the Seattle community, and its distinctive neon sign still shines above the entrance. 07-26

Ted Harris Paint (Closed)
Vancouver B.C.
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Few signs add color to a street quite like the old Ted Harris Paint sign. Even when it isn't glowing, the tall vertical neon is one of Vancouver's most recognizable storefront signs and an easy landmark along East Hastings Street. Photo date: 03-06

The family business began as a bicycle shop in the late 1930s before switching to paint in 1947. The colorful neon soon followed and remained a familiar sight for generations of Vancouver residents looking for paint and decorating supplies.

The business closed in 2009 when the Harris family retired, but thankfully the sign was spared. Although the neon no longer lights up, it still hangs above the storefront as a reminder of a time when colorful signs like this were a common part of the city's streetscape.

UPDATE: Ted Harris Paint is gone, but its iconic neon sign still survives on the building as a Vancouver landmark. 07-26

Moreland Hardware
Portland, OR
Photo courtesy Mike Siebert

Neighborhood hardware stores don't usually become roadside landmarks, but Moreland Hardware has managed to do just that. Its bright red neon sign has been catching the eyes of Portland drivers for generations and remains one of the city's classic commercial signs. Photo date: 06-06

The store has served Southeast Portland for decades, and while it now operates as Westmoreland Ace Hardware, the vintage sign is still the first thing most people notice. A small update added the Ace name to the bottom panel, but the familiar neon and overall design remain much as they have for years.

It's the kind of neighborhood sign that's becoming harder to find. Simple, colorful, and built to grab your attention, it continues to light up Milwaukie Avenue just as it has for generations.

UPDATE: The store continues to operate as Westmoreland Ace Hardware, and its classic neon sign remains one of Southeast Portland's best-known landmarks. 07-26

Signal Gas (Closed)
Portland, OR
Photos courtesy Mike Siebert

Few old gas stations have been brought back to life as beautifully as the Signal Gas station in Portland. More photos can be found here. From the streamlined tower to the glowing neon trim, this Art Deco beauty looks like it rolled right out of the late 1930s. Photo date: 06-06

Built in 1939 for Signal Oil, the station was a familiar stop for motorists traveling through North Portland. After years of different owners and uses, the building was carefully restored to its original appearance, complete with vintage-style signs, neon, and classic gas pumps.

Today the old station has found a new life as Signal Station Pizza. The garage bays now serve pizza instead of tune-ups, but the building still looks every bit like the roadside landmark it was designed to be. It's one of Portland's finest examples of how a vintage service station can be preserved without losing its character.

UPDATE: The restored Signal station continues to welcome visitors as Signal Station Pizza while preserving one of Portland's best Art Deco roadside landmarks. 07-26

Power Tool Rental and Sales (Closed)
Spokane, WA
Photo courtesy Josh Hudgens / 2007

The boomerang-shaped Power Tool Rental and Sales sign is one of those great pieces of roadside design that makes you slow down for a second look. Standing along Sprague Avenue in Spokane Valley, it still catches the eye with its unmistakable mid-century style. Photo date: 07-07

The business dates back to 1950, and for years the sign was impossible to miss with its bright pink and aqua colors and blinking neon boomerangs. While the colorful paint scheme and animated lighting are gone, the sign remains one of the best surviving examples of Googie-era roadside architecture in the Spokane area.

After the original family business closed in 2003, there was concern the property might become something entirely different. Instead, the owner's son-in-law reopened the store, keeping it in the family and continuing the tradition of selling and repairing power equipment. Today it operates as Aces Valley Power Tool, but the famous sign is still the first thing most people notice.

UPDATE: Aces Valley Power Tool continues to operate along Sprague Avenue, and the classic boomerang sign remains a Spokane Valley landmark. 07-26

Surplus Best Buy
Spokane, WA
Photo courtesy Josh Hudgens / 2007

The weathered Best Buy Surplus sign has been watching over East Sprague Avenue for decades. Even with flakes of old paint showing its age, the glowing neon still gives the sign plenty of character. Photo date: 07-07

The surplus store traces its roots back to 1945 and has long been a favorite stop for anyone looking for military surplus, outdoor gear, or something a little out of the ordinary. Inside, the old-fashioned display cases and vintage feel make it seem like time hasn't moved quite as fast here.

The sign is every bit as memorable as the store itself. Its classic lettering and neon border are reminders of a time when businesses relied on eye-catching signs instead of giant billboards to attract customers.

UPDATE: Best Buy Surplus remains in business, and its vintage neon sign continues to brighten East Sprague Avenue. 07-26