How the Weirs Beach Sign Became a New Hampshire Landmark

Along the zigzagging shores of Lake Winnipesaukee in Laconia, New Hampshire, a midcentury marvel points back in time. The Weirs Beach sign, with its classic neon lettering and flashing arrow, has directed travelers to a boardwalk brimming with activity since 1956. In the 70 years since, the sign has become a totem not just of the state’s largest lake but of the region’s vintage summer revelry.

Before the 1950s, locals called this stretch of lakefront Weirs or, more often, “the Weirs,” in reference to the fishing trap Native Americans used in the channel. But in 1955, five years after the dredging of this waterway helped to create a large sandy wedge, the Laconia City Council voted unanimously to change the name to Weirs Beach.

The local railroad station, which helped usher in the area’s tourism boom during the 19th century, switched the name of its stop accordingly. And a group of local business owners scrounged together $2,200 to erect their own monument to this newly branded summer resort.

On July 19, 1956, framed by a truck and crane, many of these local figures posed for a photo alongside the soon-to-be-erected Weirs Beach arrow sign. They beamed beneath the distinctive neon letters and yellow-coated bulbs that were designed to flash sequentially along the curved arrow. In total, the new marker weighed in at an impressive 4,400 pounds. Actress and singer Marilyn Maxwell had her picture taken in front of it the following year.

But more than a few times in the ensuing decades, the sign’s signature lights went dark, and repairs were costly. By the turn of the century, Laconia officials weighed replacing the structure altogether. Instead, they opted to restore the sign in 2002 at the urging of locals. Resident Alison Hildebrand had gathered more than 2,000 signatures on a petition to refurbish the 12-foot landmark.

Today, after additional maintenance efforts overseen by the Weirs Action Committee, 696 LED bulbs flash around 200 feet of neon lettering. They light up now more than ever—once solely a sign of summer, the letters and arrow now glow throughout the year. And in homes around the country, images of the Weirs Beach sign adorn coffee mugs, totes, and ornaments.

This summer, the committee will hold a celebration to commemorate the sign’s septuagenarian status. One thing’s for sure: They won’t have to worry about lighting.

This feature was originally published as “Glowing Strong” in the July/August 2026 issue of Yankee.

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Benjamin Cassidy

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