Walgreens Sign — Chicago, early 1900’s

Charles R. Walgreen, Sr. purchased the Chicago drugstore where he had worked as a pharmacist, and in 1901, he started the Walgreens chain.

Federal Electric — New York office — Circa 1905

Crutcher & Starks — Louisville, KY — 1910

Crutcher & Starks was a prominent men’s clothing store in Louisville.

Claude Neon Federal

In the mid-1920’s, French scientist Georges Claude developed a process for producing neon tubes, which made neon economical for commercial manufacture and use. With the establishment of the Claude Neon Federal Co. in 1930, Federal began manufacturing its own electrodes and cathodes.

War Effort

During WWII, the production of metal signs was prohibited and virtually the entire country’s manufacturing capacity was converted to aid the war effort. Signal products were used for air-raid warnings and for sirens on tanks and ships. In 1944, Federal received an “E” award for its distinguished service as a government supplier.

Weber’s Bread 

The Weber’s Bread billboard sign — a large rooftop sign in South Los Angeles — was constructed and installed by Federal in 1958. The sign features the company’s logo, with a combination of neon lighting and light bulbs to create a glowing effect visible for miles.  Although the bakery went out of business years ago, the rooftop sign has remained a notable landmark in the area.

Budweiser

A St. Louis staple since 1962, the sign has become a symbol of Budweiser’s iconic image in St. Louis. In the mid-1960’s, Federal became the “keeper” of the sign, providing regular repairs and maintenance and assisting with its 2022 restoration.

Flamingo Hilton — Las Vegas, 1977

In 1976, Heath and Co. was hired to revamp the facade with new neon signage, at a cost of $1.5 million. The project was overseen by Raul Rodriguez, a designer at Heath. The project was completed in 1977. It included prominent neon signs depicting flamingo plumage, in addition to neon flamingos against a mirrored backdrop.

Sea World Orlando

In the 1980’s, Federal manufactured and installed this entrance sign for Sea World in Orlando, FL. The landmark sign was massive in scale, designed to be seen from the surrounding roadways. It was removed in 2021 to make way for a new sign.

Bank of America — Dallas Green Building

In 1985, Federal outlined the Bank of America Building in Dallas with more than 1.7 miles of green argon gas tubing. Projecting over 900 ft. in the sky, it instantly created a landmark on the Dallas skyline. The building is now known to most people as “the green building.”

Nasdaq Display — Times Square

The Nasdaq billboard sign in Times Square, known as the Nasdaq MarketSite, was unveiled on November 18, 1999. Federal installed approximately 8,200 LED panels on an eight-story cylindrical facade.

Paris Balloon, 1999

Federal Sign created the iconic Paris Las Vegas pylon, a 180-ft. neon-lit replica of an 18th-century French hot air balloon. Showcasing craftsmanship with hand-painted detail and engineering excellence, the sign is a notable fixture on the Las Vegas strip.

Citgo, Boston

In 2010, Citgo’s 60 x 60-ft. LED sign in Boston outside of Fenway Park was restored by Federal Heath with over 218,000 LEDs, replacing outdated technology.

Carlsbad, CA

In 2014, Federal fabricated and installed the city of Carlsbad’s new welcome sign. The city landmark is a recreation of an iconic Carlsbad sign that was installed in the 1930’s. It measures 31 x 5.5 ft., weighs more than 19,000 lbs., and is mounted on a truss system spanning 82 ft. across Carlsbad Blvd.

Fremont Street Experience 2019

Federal Heath installed the world’s largest video screen, a four-block LED canopy, to update the Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas.

Marathon

Today, Federal Heath continues to provide custom-branding solutions to businesses nationwide. With over 450,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space and nearly 500 employees, Federal Heath shows no signs of slowing down.

For more information on Federal Heath’s 125th anniversary, click here.