The Gandy Photography firm captured images for Florida Steel in the early 1970s and was likely commissioned to photograph this striking billboard at the corner of Tampa and Kay Streets. The towering neon Coca-Cola sign, which looms several stories high, overlooks the interstate near downtown Tampa. While few records detail its exact construction date, its height and proximity to what was then I-75 (now I-275) suggest it was erected in the late 1960s, when the interstate first opened. Since then, the area has undergone significant transformation, including highway expansions that brought traffic lanes within 50 yards of the sign’s base. Despite these changes, it stands tall over the Tampa Heights neighborhood, greeting northbound travelers just past the Hillsborough River. This 50-year-old billboard does not have as much panache as something like the Kress building or other revered structures, but its design is vintage, and it has withstood wind storms, hurricanes, interstate expansions, and the passage of time. Today, it’s operated by Clear Channel Outdoor and features advertisements for the Busch Gardens theme park.

 © Chip Weiner. All rights reserved