History of Billboard in Timeline

A billboard is a large-scale outdoor advertising structure strategically positioned in high-traffic locations to capture the attention of drivers and pedestrians. These structures display sizable advertisements, often used by brands to enhance brand recognition or promote new products to a broad audience. Billboards are a common and effective means of outdoor advertising.

1909: Cities begin banning billboards in the US

In 1909, many cities in the US began enacting laws to ban billboards, including a California Supreme Court case (Varney & Green vs. Williams), but the First Amendment has made this difficult.

1925: Burma-Shave advertisements

In 1925, Burma-Shave began using a unique highway advertising technique with 4- or 5-part messages on multiple signs, ending in a punchline, hooking the reader.

1927: Hawaii prohibits billboards

In 1927, Hawaii's law prohibiting billboards went into effect.

1936: Wall Drug erects billboards advertising "free ice water"

In 1936, Wall Drug erected billboards advertising "free ice water", which was crucial to drawing business in small towns. The town of Wall, South Dakota, was essentially built around the many thousands of customers per day those billboards brought in.

1937: Billboards absent in Canberra due to ordinance

In 1937, billboards were largely absent in Australia's capital city, Canberra, due to an ordinance that prohibited unauthorized signs on Commonwealth land.

1959: Alaska prohibits billboards upon achieving statehood

In 1959, Alaska's law prohibiting billboards went into effect upon its achievement of statehood.

1963: Burma-Shave advertisements end

In 1963, Burma-Shave discontinued their unique highway advertising technique, which consisted of 4- or 5-part messages on multiple signs that ended in a punchline.

1964: Over-proliferation of signage motivates Lady Bird Johnson

In 1964, the negative impact of the over-proliferation of signage was abundantly evident in Houston, Texas, US, and it motivated Lady Bird Johnson to ask her husband to create a law.

1965: Highway Beautification Act signed into law

In 1965, the Highway Beautification Act was signed into law in the US, limiting billboards to commercial and industrial zones on "Federal Aid Primary" and "Defense" highways and requiring states to maintain "effective control" of billboards or lose 10% of their federal highway dollars.

1968: Vermont prohibits billboards

In 1968, Vermont's law prohibiting billboards went into effect.

1971: San Diego enacts billboard ban

In 1971, a San Diego law championed by Pete Wilson cited traffic safety and driver distraction as the reason for the billboard ban

1971: Tobacco advertising banned on radio and television in the US

In 1971, tobacco advertising was banned on radio and television in the US, leaving billboards and magazines as some of the last places tobacco could be advertised.

1977: Maine prohibits billboards

In 1977, Maine's law prohibiting billboards went into effect.

1981: Wall Drug billboards bring in 20,000 customers per day

In 1981, Wall Drug billboards brought in 20,000 customers per day

1981: Supreme Court overturns San Diego billboard ban

In 1981, the Supreme Court narrowly overturned San Diego's billboard ban, in part because it banned non-commercial as well as commercial billboards.

1991: 450,000 billboards on US highways

In 1991, there were approximately 450,000 billboards present on US highways, serving as a primary method for drivers to find lodging, food, and fuel.

1999: God Speaks billboard campaign begins in Florida

In 1999, an anonymous person created the God Speaks billboard campaign in Florida with witty statements signed by God.

1999: Cigarette billboards replaced with anti-smoking messages

In 1999, as part of the tobacco settlement, all cigarette billboards in America were replaced with anti-smoking messages.

2000: Rooftop billboards obscure Athens architecture

In 2000, rooftops in Athens had grown so thick with billboards that it was difficult to see its famous architecture.

2004: Athens demolishes rooftop billboards for Olympics

In 2004, in preparation for the Summer Olympics, Athens completed a four-year project demolishing most rooftop billboards to beautify the city, overcoming resistance from advertisers and building owners.

January 2007: São Paulo bans billboards and advertising on vehicles

In January 2007, São Paulo, Brazil, banned billboards and advertising on vehicles, while also restricting the dimensions of advertising on shop fronts.

2007: São Paulo institutes billboard ban

In 2007, São Paulo, Brazil instituted a billboard ban due to a lack of viable regulations for the billboard industry.

April 2010: Toronto implements municipal tax on billboards

In April 2010, Toronto implemented a municipal tax on billboards, with a portion of the tax intended to help fund arts programs in the city.

May 2010: First "scented billboard" erected

In May 2010, Bloom grocery chain erected the first "scented billboard" in Mooresville, North Carolina, emitting the odors of black pepper and charcoal to suggest a grilled steak.

June 2010: Scented billboard run ends

In June 2010, the run of the first "scented billboard" erected by the Bloom grocery chain near Mooresville, North Carolina, which had been emitting the odors of black pepper and charcoal to suggest a grilled steak, came to an end on June 18th after being active from May 28th.

2017: Top billboard advertisers in the US

According to the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, the top billboard advertisers in the United States in 2017 were McDonald's, Apple and GEICO.

2017: Australian Capital Territory considers relaxing billboard laws

In 2017, the Australian Capital Territory considered relaxing the 1937 law prohibiting unauthorized signs on Commonwealth land to allow more outdoor advertising. A record 166 submissions were received, with only 6 supporting the change.