Mission Motel

Object/Artifact

-

Museum of Neon Art

Name/Title

Mission Motel

Entry/Object ID

2005.13.1

Description

Animated sign with ringing bells from motel at 9235 MacArthur Blvd. in the Castlemont neighborhood of Oakland, CA. Text: "MISSION"

Category

Signs

Made/Created

Date made

1950

Dimensions

Height

79 in

Width

84 in

Depth

12 in

Dimension Notes

Double-sided. On stand with wheels. 7 amps. Transformers: 1/12k 2/9k 3/3k

Materials

Material

Porcelain enamel

Material Notes

Bells are noviol gold tubes

Color

Pink, Gold

Exhibition

Motel California

Interpretative Labels

Label

MISSION MOTEL 1950 Donated by the Oakland Museum of California The Mission Motel, located at 9235 MacArthur Boulevard in the Castlemont neighborhood of Oakland, California, was designed in a Mission Revival style of architecture with a complimenting neon sign. The original sign was erected in 1938, with additions in 1945 and 1955 to create a 24-foot-tall, free-standing sign that stood near the roadside at Highway Route 50. The top portion of the porcelain enamel, vertical sign was preserved and donated to the Museum of Neon Art. This remaining pinnacle depicts a mission-style arch of porcelain enamel and a neon bell, animated to symbolize ringing. The motel was demolished in 1996.