Electric Signs

Tilt and Tap the 57: Pittburgh’s Heinz Icon

The sign has left its home of 12 years.

Published

17 years ago

July 10, 2007

MaryKate Moran Signs of the Times July 2007 Issue

The illuminated Heinz bottle, an icon of Pittsburgh’s skyline, is facing a dilemma: relocation.

Once perched atop a building on the city’s north side, the colossal ketchup bottle refilled the Heinz logo every 30 seconds. Heinz sold many of its businesses in the building to Del Monte Foods Co. in 2002, with a four-year deal to leave the sign in place. Now the bottle needs a new home, but Heinz officials say they plan to keep the sign as part of the city’s skyline. The 12-year-old aluminum and steel sign will undergo restoration in the meantime.

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