Sign Hill Letters

The graphic monument commonly referred to as “Sign Hill” is South San Francisco's most noticeable and beloved art installation. The historical artifact was created by City leaders in the early 20th century to advertise, attract and invite heavy industry to relocate into the hospitable and budding community.

Although the wording, composed of three lines that read: "South | San Francisco | The Industrial City," remained similar, two versions of the sign evolved over time. Located on Sign Hill Park, the original 1923 whitewashed lettering was created by using a mixture of powdered lime, white cement and water. The lettering was set on the southern side of a steep, 581-foot-high hill, that forms part of the San Bruno Mountains.

Years later, to reduce the maintenance of the impermanent lettering, the SSF Chamber of Commerce advocated for the creation of a concrete sign. In 1929, the goal of a prominent and permanent hillside sign that attracted industry and invited new residents was realized. The individual letters ranged in height from 48 to 65 feet, in an anamorphic arrangement on the contoured hill to create the illusion, from a distance, of straight, regularly sized and spaced text against the uneven surface of the natural landscape.

By the mid 1980’s, the area had been moving away from heavy industry and towards biotech technologies, light industry, transportation and other late 20th century economic priorities. A segment of the population considered the sign’s appellation, “Industrial,” irrelevant and archaic. There was a movement to remove or alter the sign. Consequently, to preserve the graphic monument, in 1986, Sign Hill was designated a historic resource by South San Francisco's Historic Preservation Commission.

Ten years later, through the efforts of Edna Harks, town historian and archivist, Sign Hill was placed on the California Register of the Office of Historic Preservation and the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service’s - National Register of Historic Places.

The cherished artistic marker continues to serve as a guiding symbol, visibly identifying the City of South San Francisco, celebrating its industrial origins and promoting community pride to new generations.

For More Information
  • SSF Historical Articles
  • SSF Historical Society

Location

Sign Hill Park, 1929, South San Francisco 94080  View Map