Where is the Pepsi Cola Sign in New York?
If you love advertising, cola drinks, and off-the-beaten-path discoveries, head to the Pepsi Cola Sign. This iconic billboard is now a New York City landmark!
How to See the Pepsi Cola Sign in New York
- New York is famous for advertising, especially on Times Square, the world’s largest billboard. But there’s another advertising landmark worth seeking out: the Pepsi Cola Sign, a massive vintage advertisement for the famous cola drink.
- Head to Gantry Plaza State Park, located in Long Island City, west of Queens. You’ll spot the sign right away. It sits prominently on the East River waterfront, facing Manhattan.
- The sign stands 18 m (59 ft) tall and stretches 37 m (121 ft) long—far larger than typical billboards. You’ll see it from quite a distance.
The History of the Pepsi Cola Sign
- The sign has an interesting backstory. The Pepsi Cola Sign was first installed in 1936 on the roof of Pepsi’s bottling plant. A severe storm damaged the original, and it was rebuilt identically in 1993.
- In 1999, Pepsi closed its New York factory. The company sold most of the land but kept a small parcel. The iconic sign was preserved and reinstalled at its current location in 2009.
- In 2016, New York City designated the sign a historic landmark. “Its prominent location and frequent appearances in popular culture have made it one of the most distinctive and recognizable icons of the Queens waterfront,” said Meenakshi Srinivasan, chair of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. A historic monument that knows how to advertise itself.
Map: Getting to the Pepsi Cola Sign
Your Turn
Here’s a fun challenge: try to spot the Pepsi Cola Sign from the Empire State Building. If you find it, send me a photo and I’ll add it below. 🙂