North Dakota Highway 17 route sign

Description

North Dakota Highway 17 is a state route that runs east-west across northeast North Dakota. Three distinct styles of state route marker have been used on Highway 17 since 1931. The first showed the route number in a circle superimposed over a drawing of a Native American chief in profile. The man depicted on the sign was said to be Red Tomahawk, a Lakota police officer who shot Sitting Bull during the arrest attempt that resulted in his death. The state highway sign was simplified by 1961 to show only Red Tomahawk’s silhouette, with the route number inside. In 2016, this silhouette was replaced with that of North Dakota itself.

The classic Native American North Dakota Highway 17 sign lives on in our faithful replicas. We’ve used specifications documents, old photos, and other historic materials to recreate these route markers. Every element is just like the original, including the details of the iconic chief profiles, as well as the historically-accurate highway sign fonts. North Dakota’s 1931-style route markers have long since been retired, and those of the 1961 style are rapidly vanishing as they wear out and are replaced with the modern issue.

Our North Dakota Highway 17 markers are flat printed on heavy 14-gauge steel, right here in the United States. Our signs have an exquisite non-retroreflective high-gloss finish that looks much like the porcelain signs used throughout much of the West in the early days of the automobile. It can also  stand up to the harsh winter of North Dakota, while looking great indoors too. Pre-drilled mounting holes for convenient installation are included. Both the 1931 and 1961 designs are available in the following sizes:

• 12 in. × 12 in.
• 15 in. × 15 in. (actual size of the 1931 marker)
• 16 in. × 16 in.
• 24 in. × 24 in. (actual size of the 1961 marker)
• 36 in. × 36 in.

Want one of these route markers with a different number? Or one of the newer 2016 design? Perhaps you’re looking for a state route marker from another state? Or even a totally different kind sign, like a directional sign, warning sign, welcome sign, street sign, or anything else? Getting started on a custom order is easy—contact us today!