Pepsi-Cola Sign — New York’s main neon sign

If there were a list of 50 reasons to love American culture, it would definitely include a point about Americans’ love for large neon signs.

And while everyone knows sign №1 — the undisputed leader in status and recognizability (of course, the Hollywood Sign) — we would give second place, despite strong competitors, to New York’s main neon sign.

The Pepsi-Cola Sign is a giant sign located in Queens, directly opposite the UN building, which makes it clearly visible from the East River and from the eastern side of Manhattan. The letters reach about 14 meters in height, and its red neon outline has become a calling card of Long Island City.

History

It turns out that the Pepsi lettering first appeared here as early as 1936, on the roof of a Pepsi factory that operated on this site from 1936 until 1999. When it became clear that production needed to be moved to a new modern facility, the land beneath the factory was sold to developers for residential construction, but a small plot measuring 18 by 60 meters was retained.

The corporation deliberately preserved this piece of land so that the sign would remain as a pop-art object accessible to future generations. At the same time, the original structure was updated several times (neon, mounts, lighting). The last major reconstruction took place in 1993, after a severe winter storm.

Significance

The Pepsi-Cola Sign is a classic example of how an advertising object turns into an urban landmark. It tells a story not only about the brand, but about New York’s industrial heritage as a whole, and Long Island City in particular. And of course, it contributes to the area’s recognizability.

Not to mention that the sign has long been a favorite of filmmakers, music video directors, bloggers, and photographers, who use it as a backdrop to anchor their stories to a specific location.