Birch Bay Sign — Blaine, WA
Posted by: 
Dunbar Loop
N 48° 58.566 W 122° 43.747
10U E 519822 N 5424834
This old and worn neon sign was intended to draw motorists off of US 99 just south of Blaine to Birch Bay, a popular seaside community.
Waymark Code: WMGX8Z
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 04/19/2013
Views: 11
It may be tired, worn, and seem insignificant but this simple neon sign saying "Birch Bay" dates back to the 1950s or earlier when Peace Portal Drive was US 99. By the mid-1960s this stretch of US 99 had been replaced with the much faster, limited access Interstate 5 allowing motorists to travel from Vancouver, BC to Seattle, WA much less time.
The sign is located north of the intersection of Peace Portal Drive and Blaine Road making appear that the businesses of Birch Bay wanted to draw Canadians to their seaside holiday resort. Talking with locals in British Columbia's Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland, Birch Bay has been a popular destination for Canadians since the 1920s. Even today the communities economy remains dependant on Canadian visitors.
While it is hard to date the sign, it is possible it was installed in the 1940s or 1950s. The neon is long gone, but remains a reminder of the importance of US 99.
State: Washington
Nearest City: Blaine
Type: Americana - Motel, diner, roadside attraction, etc.
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