Louisiana US Route 61 highway marker

Description

US Route 61 begins its 1,407-mile (2264-km) journey through the country in Louisiana, at US 90 in New Orleans. From there, it heads north, generally following the course of the Mississippi River, all the way to Minnesota. The chunk of US 61 in Louisiana was once a critical link in the state’s transportation system. This was because the route connected New Orleans with the state capital, Baton Rouge. This stretch of highway, called the Airline Highway, saw heavy upgrades during the term of office of Governor Huey Long. It was rumored that Long’s interest in improving the highway was to allow him to more easily drive from the Capitol down to New Orleans to go drinking, though this was never publicly confirmed, of course.

Our Louisiana US 61 sign is made according to the precise 1926 federal standards.  This style is easily identifiable by its “cut out” shield shape and distinctive block font. Signs like this were all over in the early days of the US route system. In 1948, they gave way to a newer style, using the same fonts in use today. From time to time, you might be able to find original US 61 signs on the collector’s market. Inevitably, though, they sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Our faithful replica lets you get an excellent display piece for just a fraction of the price of an original.

Our Louisiana US 61 sign is flat printed on heavy 14-gauge steel. Its finish is non-reflective, but glossy, allowing it to blend seamlessly with any room’s decor. It’s durable enough for outdoor display too, even through a sweltering Louisiana summer. No matter your design needs, we have a size to fit them! The 16½ in. × 16 in. version is the most historically accurate. We also have the oversized 24″ version, plus a 12″ version scaled down for efficient display. Whichever size you pick, it will have two mounting holes pre-drilled for convenient installation.

We can make a sign like this with any route number you want, from any state! Not only that, we can also make signs from the newer 1948 and 1961 standard books as well. And of course, we can make historic state route and Interstate markers too. Just about any kind of road sign is in our wheelhouse! All you need to do is contact Jake to get started on your custom order.