Your favorite state highway shields

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by caphillsea77

Wow, Kansas is actually leading a poll on something, that's a first. That was my 1st pick as it seems the most unique and very characteristic of the state.

Kansas has a lot of detail in its sunflower, and the splash of yellow makes it stand out more. Its ornateness makes it cute-looking.

California's shield is distinctive too. Anybody else notice that Oregon's is an upside-down California shield with no color or text?

Of all the shields with the shapes of states, I like Missouri's best.

Georgia seems to have at least four different shields with subtle differences. I wish they'd stick to one (the newest one with the extra detail).

Pennsylvania's shield is emblematic of the state just like the Kansas shield is. The keystone shape is straightforward and powerful, and very symbolic too.

I'm not sure how New York's shield got its shape, but it's easy to recognize.

I feel bad for all the states that just use basic shapes and no text.

[lammius]

Originally Posted by Gnutella

I feel bad for all the states that just use basic shapes and no text.

Many of those states initially had more ornate or interesting shields, but they have been changed over the years to "declutter" them.

Example, NJ's highway shield in the 1920s:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...8cutout%29.svg

NJ's highway shield today is a simplified version:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...s_at_NJ_29.jpg

[jtur88]

Originally Posted by davidals

There are no county maintained roads in NC (everything is either a city street, or a state highway), so NC has state primary roads, which are signed, and state secondary routes, which are unsigned. .

Yes, NC is a nightmare for people like me, who like to take strawberry shortcuts across back roads when traveling. They are impossible to navigate on in NC, because they are un-signposted, and when you get a mile or two from a numbered highway, you're hopelessly lost.

[Ohiogirl81]

New Hampshire and Utah are the coolest. I also like the little wagon on Nebraska's signs.

Second runners up are the ones incorporating the state's shape into the sign.

The rest of them are pretty dull.