Bristol Virginia-Tennessee Slogan Sign

The Bristol Virginia-Tennessee Slogan Sign is a landmark in the twin cities of Bristol, Virginia and Bristol, Tennessee, United States. The sign is positioned over State Street, a roadway along the border separating the two states. Although the landmark is technically located in both Tennessee and Virginia, the National Register considers the location as Tennessee.

Bristol Virginia-Tennessee Slogan Sign
Bristol Virginia-Tennessee Slogan Sign, May 2006
LocationE. State St.
Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia
Coordinates36°35′41.82″N 82°10′46.85″W
Arealess than one acre
Built1910 (1910)
NRHP reference No.88001568[1]
VLR No.102-0002
Significant dates
Added to NRHPSeptember 8, 1988
Designated VLRJune 21, 2008[2]

History

In 1901, the center of Main Street was officially designated as the state line separating Tennessee and Virginia by the United States Congress. The street has since been renamed State Street.

According to the Bristol Historical Association's booklet The Historical Bristol Sign, the Bristol Gas and Electric Company donated and erected the sign atop a hardware store in 1910 to advertise the city. The sign originally contained the lighted slogan PUSH! - THAT'S BRISTOL referring to the hopes of continued growth and future prosperity for the two cities. In 1915, the sign was moved to its current location. In 1921, a contest was held in order to select a new slogan. The winning slogan, A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE, has remained the slogan ever since.[3] The sign is featured at the beginning of a 2016 commercial for GEICO insurance.[4]

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.[1]

Technical details

The lighted sign currently contains 1,332 light bulbs.

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  3. Shelley Ireson Edwards and Elizabeth A. Straw (April 1988). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Bristol Virginia-Tennessee Slogan Sign" (PDF). and Accompanying photo
  4. Virginessee: Gecko Journey - GEICO
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