For more than a century, the Fairfield Welcome Arch has greeted drivers entering downtown Fairfield, California. It is a massive point of civic pride and easily one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.

When Fairfield looked to prepare the arch for its next hundred years, they reached out to YESCO. Because our own company history stretches back over a century, we knew exactly what this landmark means to the community. Our mission was clear: modernize the structure without losing the classic look residents have grown up with.

The Goal: Modern Reliability, Classic Look

The ultimate challenge of historic restoration is improving performance without changing the soul of the original design. For the Fairfield Arch, our team focused on upgrading the internal technology while keeping the exterior completely authentic.

To balance modern efficiency with over 100 years of history, the project included:

• A Replicated Retro Glow: We replaced the delicate, aging neon with custom LED flex tube lighting. This gives the city an energy-efficient system that perfectly replicates the warm, continuous glow of traditional neon.
• Upgraded Infrastructure: Our crew completely rewired the arch’s internal electrical components, fixing decades of wear and tear to ensure long-term safety and reliability.
• Lowered Overhead: The new LED system drastically cuts down on energy usage and ongoing maintenance, saving the city time and taxpayer dollars.

Built in 1925, Saved in 1961

The arch has a rich history. Originally unveiled in October 1925 as one of the Fairfield Lions Club’s very first civic projects, it was built for just under $1,000. It lit up Texas Street with 80 incandescent bulbs, welcoming travelers along the historic Highway 40 corridor long before Interstate 80 existed.

However, its survival wasn’t always guaranteed:

• Saved from the Wrecking Ball: In 1961, the arch was scheduled for demolition under a downtown modernization plan. Local residents rallied together, successfully convincing city leaders to preserve this piece of local history.
• The Lost Beacon: During a restoration in the 1980s, workers discovered and reinstalled a long-lost emergency beacon on top of the arch, which was originally used to alert local police and firefighters to incoming calls.

At YESCO, we love projects like this because they allow us to combine old-school sign craftsmanship with the best of today’s technology. It’s an honor to help communities keep their historic landmarks running safely and looking great for the next hundred years.