Boca Life

Back to the Future: Boca Raton Goes Retro With 19-Foot Re-Creation of Classic Road Sign

by
Daniel Nee
January 10, 2025

Boca Raton kicked off its centennial this week with a picture-perfect blast from the past.

The long-gone, but still iconic, Boca Raton roadside sign that welcomes newcomers for decades has re-emerged in the form of a retro homage along Federal Highway at Sanborn Square. The sign was unveiled earlier this week, but had its first major display in front of those who braved the chilly air to attend the city’s night market Thursday.

Boca Raton’s former ‘welcome’ sign. (Photo: City of Boca Raton)

A ‘retro’ homage to Boca Raton’s iconic welcome sign on Federal Highway, Jan. 9, 2025. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

“I think it looks great,” said one city resident, taking a selfie in front of the sign with her son. “The colors really open up at night. They did a good job.”

The black-and-white sign comes to life at night with pink backlighting behind the “Raton” portion of the sign. The design is definitively “retro,” true to the style of 1960s marketing of tropical beachside communities as the age of jet travel first began.

The formal name of the display is “Reflections of Time,” with the striking 19-foot-tall sculpture inspired by Boca Raton’s original mid-century welcome sign. A permanent-in-nature installment in Sanborn Square, the sculpture will serve as a “bold tribute to the city’s history and a symbol of its bright future,” city officials said in an announcement.

A ‘retro’ homage to Boca Raton’s iconic welcome sign on Federal Highway, Jan. 9, 2025. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Designed by graphic design artist Jodie Aznar and manufactured locally by Signsations, the sculpture is crafted from steel, aluminum, concrete, and stucco. It features front- and back-channel letters, acrylic and vinyl elements, and LED lighting for a striking, modern aesthetic.

The illuminated sculpture transitions through a vibrant color palette reflecting “the essence of Boca Raton:”

Boca Raton Pink – Celebrating the City’s rich history.
Golden Sun Yellow – Representing the sunny South Florida location.
Ocean Blue – Reflecting the City’s coastal community.
Nature Green – Highlighting the parks and green spaces that make Boca Raton unique.

Those who want to check out the unique display can visit Sanborn Square, 72 N. Federal Highway, Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. 11 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to sunset. The illumination appears at night.