Des Moines Landmark: The Traveler’s Umbrella Sign
Looking out from my 9th floor unit I have a clear view of the back on one of Des Moines’ oldest landmarks. The umbrella sign was erected in 1963 on top of the Insurance Exchange Building at 5th and Grand Avenue. The sign was the logo for the Travelers Insurance Company until the logo was abandoned in 1995. A few years later, the insurance company was acquired by Citigroup, which kept the umbrella logo and sold the insurance company.
The 50-foot wide sign, that’s about 40-foot tall, can easily be seen driving down I-235 and is is still one of the first sights that drivers from the east notice when approaching the downtown on I-235.
The sign faced dismemberment a few times since it was installed, and was pretty run down until, left neglected over the years, but in the fall of 2005, the sign returned to it’s former glory. That’s when the Graham Group, owner of the Insurance Exchange Building on which the sign sits, agreed to take over maintenance of the sign.
The Travelers sign has become an unlikely Des Moines landmark.
By MulderDSM
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Posted under Living Downtown | Last modified on September 19th, 2008.
Tags: History | Skyline
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MulderDSM on Sat, 20th Sep 2008 2:15 pm
Almost forgot, it’s not the best image, but it’s a quick shot of the back of the sign as viewed from my condo.
MulderDSM on Sat, 20th Dec 2008 9:31 am
Here’s a news video about the renovation that was just recently posted on YouTube.
Lisa Hollett on Tue, 24th Mar 2009 12:17 pm
My father, Frank Hollett, was the glassblower that made the sign while employed at Iowa Neon Sign Company. He has been dead 28 years now but it makes me feel so good to know that “his” sign is still a welcome sign to Des Moines.
Bob OHara on Tue, 6th Oct 2009 11:37 am
My father Jimmie OHara also worked at Iowa Neon as a sign designer and was in on the design of the sign itself I believe
Lisa Hollett on Tue, 6th Oct 2009 11:58 am
Wow, Bob. Yes both of our fathers worked on this together. I remember him mentioning Jimmie’s name a lot around the dinner table.
Bob OHara on Tue, 6th Oct 2009 12:03 pm
Small world isn’t it? I live in PA now and we lost Dad a bit over 33 years ago. Don’t know about your father but it really hurt my Dad when Iowa Neon went out of business
Lisa Hollett on Tue, 6th Oct 2009 12:11 pm
Waaaaayy small world. I too now live in PA. My dad died 29 years ago. It jsut wasn’t the same when Dad went to work for Eagle.
Bob OHara on Tue, 6th Oct 2009 12:58 pm
Hmmm; I live in Franklin, PA myself
Sarah Freestone on Fri, 20th Aug 2010 7:17 am
My grandfather, Beryl Coulson, worked for Iowa Neon and the story is that he worked on that sign (put it up). He wouldn’t have blown glass and may not have worked on the design, but he’s been installing neon forever. He has had Coulson Sign Company, in Ankeny, as long as I can remember (I’m 28). He also did the neon in the old Broadway Diner on East 14th & Broadway; I remember him working on the Pegasus. Does anyone remember him?