DescriptionThe large sign advertised Howard Johnson, a restaurant that became known for its 28 flavors of ice cream. Originally opened in 1925 as a corner pharmacy selling soda and ice cream, by 1940, there were more than 100 Howard Johnson locations across the country. The Museum’s sign was created around 1958 and originally located in Utica, New York. At about 20 feet tall, it weighs more than 1,500 pounds and depicts characters inspired by the nursery rhyme “Simple Simon met a pie-man going to the fair…” This imagery was chosen to promote that the restaurants—as well as the franchised motels and hotels operating by this time—were all family-friendly. Today, Howard Johnson’s lodging is owned and operated by Wyndham Worldwide, but the last Howard Johnson restaurant closed in 2022. Corning glass was the original manufacturer of the ruby red neon in this sign.