Museum and Historic Site Signs FAQ
- What are they ?
- How long does it take to get Museum/Historic Site signs?
- What does it cost to have Museum/Historic Site Signs?
- How does a facility qualify for Museum/Historic Site signs?
- What is the minimum level of services required for Museum/Historic Site signs?
- What areas or locations are considered eligible for Museum/Historic Site signs?
- Are Museum/Historic Site signs allowed on interstate highways or expressways?
- How far away from the highway can a facility be and still qualify?
- How can motorists find the facility if it's not visible at the highway intersection?
- What if a motorist can see the Museum, but I simply want a sign to let them know the Museum is up ahead?
- How much advertising can be put on a Museum/Historic site sign?
- What if the Museum/Historic Site's name changes?
- Can private clubs have Museum/Historic Site signs?
1. What are they?
Museum and Historic Site signs are seen as alternatives to billboard advertising by many businesses, but in fact they are classified as traffic control devices, and must meet all regulations set by the Federal Highway Administration and State sign standards.
Many confuse these signs with advertising, but as you can see, they are not. They must fall within the restricted requirements of Federal and State sign regulations, or the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) can lose a percentage of its Federal funding.
Museum/Historic Site signs consist of a brown sign panel with white letters giving the name of a qualified Museum or Historic Site together with directional information located on non-interstate, rural highways. [back to questions]
2. How long does it take to get Museum/Historic Site signs?
It all depends on the variables involved. In addition to our criteria and roadway review process, new sign installations require an ODOT engineering review. Our goal is to turnaround sign applications within 30 days. ODOT is allowed another 30 days on reviews which are forwarded to them. Once approved, the timetable adjusts based on the time required to fabricate the signs and have them installed by a specified sign crew. The total estimated time for the entire process is 90-120 days. [back
to questions]
3. What does it cost to have Museum/Historic Site signs?
There is an annual permit fee of $100 per sign per direction. These fees are not due until the signs have been approved by TIC and ODOT. [back to questions]
4. How does a facility qualify for Museum/Historic Site signs?
A qualified Museum is a facility approved by TIC after consultation with the Oregon Historical Society and the Oregon Museum Association that exists on a permanent basis for essentially educational or aesthetic purposes. Museum offerings must be the facility’s primary source of business with objects exhibited to the public through the museum’s buildings and with an attendant on duty.
A qualified Historic Site is a district or property listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Businesses offering gas, food, lodging and camping services must apply for logo signs, not Museum/Historic Site signs. If your business is within the categories of a typical logo business, review either the Interstate logo or Off-Interstate logo web pages. Please note that eligibility, qualifications and criteria for logo signs differ significantly from Museum/Historic Site signs. [back to questions]
5. What is the minimum level of services required for Museum/Historic Site signs?
Except for undeveloped Historic Sites, a qualified facility must have:
Restroom facilities and drinking water available
Operating hours of at least 4 hours a day, five days a week (1,040 hours/year)
Licensing, where required
Adequate parking accommodations
An undeveloped Historic Site must have an informational device to provide public information about the feature. [back to questions]
6. What areas or locations are considered eligible for Museum/Historic Site signs?
Museum/Historic Site signs may be installed along non-interstate, rural highways as long as the signs meet highway sign spacing requirements.
Museum/Historic Site signs cannot be placed in an area that is urban in nature; therefore, businesses located in "downtown" areas will not qualify because of the urban congestion that would eliminate our ability to place a sign.
There are some places in the state that have been determined "full" and additional signs are unlikely due to the congestion of signs already installed. Some of those locations are: Bandon, Coos Bay, Florence, Newport, Lincoln City, Seaside, Astoria, McMinnville, Dundee, Newberg, Sherwood. [back to questions]
7. Are Museum/Historic Site signs allowed on interstate highways or expressways?
No. Museum/Historic Site signs are restricted to secondary highways that are not classified as interstate highways or expressways. [back to questions]
8. How far away from the highway can a facility be and still qualify?
A facility must be located within one mile of the intersection where the Museum/Historic Site signs are installed. However, a facility may be eligible for an approved waiver up to a distance of fifteen miles from the intersection. [back to questions]
9. How can motorists find the facility if it is not visible at the highway intersection?
A typical Museum installation consists of two signs in each direction at locations along the highway near the facility. First, a Museum sign in advance of the intersection is placed approximately 1/4 mile prior to the intersection. This sign, referred to as an “advance” Museum is required and provides motorists with the information needed to allow them adequate time to slow down and begin a safe turning movement off the highway. A second sign, called an “intersection” Museum is placed near the intersection and provides additional guidance to the motorists by using a directional arrow and distance to the facility. [back to questions]
10. What if a motorist can see the Museum, but I simply want a sign to let them know the Museum is up ahead?
To qualify for Museum signs, a facility must not be visible or recognizable to the motorist within 300 feet of approaching the intersection or access to the facility. If there are road conditions (brush, trees, etc) that hinder the visibility within that 300 foot area, the Museum may qualify for signs. [back to questions]
11. How much advertising can be put on a Museum/Historic Site sign?
None. Only the facility's Registered Business Name, or a portion of that name. [back to questions]
12. What if the Museum/Historic Site name changes?
If a replacement is requested by the customer due to a name change, a fee of $100 per sign is charged to cover the costs of manufacture and installation of the new signs. [back to questions]
13. Can private clubs have Museum/Historic signs?
No. Only facilities open to the general public are allowed signing. [back to questions] |
