Those who have spent any time in or visiting Ouray may have managed to catch a glimpse of the 30-foot wide by 20-foot tall Box Cañon sign situated above Ouray. There is also a strong chance your gaze may have lingered on it due to its disrepair. Several individuals calling themselves the Box Cañon Sign Committee recently came together to spearhead an initiative aiming at returning the sign to its former glory.
A longtime symbol of Ouray, Box Cañon sign came to be in December 1908 after a suggestion by then Ouray Mayor Charles A. Sperber. The sign was intended to function as a civic pride symbol of Ouray visible from just about anywhere someone happened to be in Ouray regardless of what time of the day it was. However, as time progressed the sign succumbed to wear and tear, from its lights which were taken off to the misshapen letters and the extensive graffiti that has remained on it since the 1920s. The pole designed to carry electrical wires to the sign was also cut, further diminishing its luster.
The Box Cañon Sign Committee has a lofty task ahead of it to return the Ouray Box Cañon sign to its former state including raising the money to fund the project. If you’re interested in donating to its restoration, you can visit http://boxcanonsign.com to make a contribution as well as educate yourself about the project.
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