The rooftop neon sign at the History Museum on the Square in downtown Springfield, Mo., was relighted Thursday night, as you can see from the photo above.
Here’s a video of the relighting, courtesy of the City of Springfield:
And KY3 television provided some valuable context about the history of the sign. The sign was erected in 1914, and said “Nathan’s Clothing.” The sign changed to “Barth’s” in the 1930s, when its ownership changed.
More about the upcoming museum improvements, which encompasses nearly a city block:
The sign has been restored as part of the $20 million history museum project. The inside of Barth’s has also been gutted, and crews have installed new windows. […]
The new museum will eventually encompass all four buildings, including the former Fox Theatre, which has been a church for many years.
“We’re going to reduce the number of seats and expand the area behind the seating area to make some nice reception rooms,” Sellars said.
Upon completion, the museum will feature state-of-the-art museum space for rotating and permanent exhibits.
(Image via Downtown Springfield)