Bristol Virginia-Tennessee Slogan Sign

Bristol Virginia-Tennessee Slogan Sign
Bristol Virginia-Tennessee Slogan Sign, May 2006
Location E. State St.
Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia
Coordinates 36°35′41.82″N 82°10′46.85″W / 36.5949500°N 82.1796806°W / 36.5949500; -82.1796806Coordinates: 36°35′41.82″N 82°10′46.85″W / 36.5949500°N 82.1796806°W / 36.5949500; -82.1796806
Area less than one acre
Built 1910 (1910)
NRHP Reference # 88001568[1]
VLR # 102-0002
Significant dates
Added to NRHP September 8, 1988
Designated VLR June 21, 2008[2]

The Bristol Virginia-Tennessee Slogan Sign is a landmark in the twin cities of Bristol, Virginia and Bristol, Tennessee, USA. 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.

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 as 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]

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. 1 2 Staff (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. 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


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