The Art of the Welcome Sign

While traveling through other states, one of our traditions is to get a photo of the "Welcome to 'Our State'" signs. No, not like many tourists, where you stop the car and have all the family pose in front of the sign-we don't have time for that sort of thing! But I get the shots nonetheless. And I love seeing how different states choose to welcome visitors who have arrived from their neighboring state.

"Welcome to Alabama the Beautiful" and an addition mentioning the current governor; Interstate 65. Short but sweet with a  nice little slogan and an extra sign that might have to be changed every few years.
Many more after the break....

"Welcome to Mississippi, Birthplace of America's Music"; Interstate 20. Nice slogan but I think I know of a few other states that might argue the statement. 

"Welcome to Louisiana, Bienvenue en Louisiane, America's Wetland"; Interstate 10. I like the addition of the French 'welcome' showing the states history. The wetland sign looks tacked on by some locals!

"Welcome to Texas, Drive Friendly-the Texas Way"; Interstate 10. I love Texas, where I was born and raised, but it's really a shame that most Texans don't actually follow the "drive friendly" advice. Okay, it was better outside of the big cities, but Houston driving-not friendly!

"Welcome to New Mexico, Land of Enchantment"; Interstate 10. Same slogan that they use on the license plates and just about everything else-not that there's anything wrong with that. They do have really nice signs, including another that was just over the road just past this one. Quite unique. 

"Welcome to Colorful Colorado"; Interstate 25. I really liked this one, with the rock pillars and non-interstate sign look. Apparently lots of people like it, as you can see there were quite a few tourists lined up to get their photos with it. 

"Welcome to Wyoming, Forever West", Interstate 25. I really like this one, too. It has an old West fort look to it with the posts and the state symbol cowboy. 

"South Dakota, Great Faces. Great Places", Interstate 90. This is the only sign we saw that didn't actually say "welcome" on it. That's okay, South Dakota is a very welcoming state despite the sign. 

"The People of Iowa Welcome You, Iowa Fields of Opportunity", Interestate 29. Not just the state welcomes you, but the people themselves! I think the only opportunity I saw was the missed one from "Fields of Dream"-"Is this Heaven? No, it's Iowa". 

"Missouri Welcomes You", Interstate 29. Your standard basic, boring welcome sign. The "ss"'s resembling the Mississippi River(and Missouri probably as well) is a nice touch though. 

"Welcome to Illinois, The Land of Lincoln, From the People of Illinois", Interstate 64/55/70.  I suppose a good welcome sign is only as good as the location. Hitting East St Louis at the same time as a welcome-and having to navigate this extremely confusing route of interstates, doesn't seem too welcoming. Instead of perhaps being somewhere on the bridge over the Mississippi, it's just thrown up there on the interstate sign display. 

"Welcome to Kentucky, Unbridled Spirit" with the Governor mentioned and "Birthplace of Abraham Lincoln" sort of tacked on; Interstate 24. I think I would have switched the governors name and the fact about Lincoln-makes you wonder who is more important to them. 

"Tennessee The Volunteer State Welcomes You", Interstate 24. And home again-and despite what you see in the photo, this is where all the construction ended! The sign is a little basic, however nice font, and addition of the state shape, and state flag.