Geotype Submission

The Geotype project charts the rich history of lettering and type forms that have established the identity of cities and towns around the world. Explore the map

How does this letter-form communicate its location?

There is a common theme, at least in the west part of the United States, of comparing our mountains to the Alps. As somebody who has been to the Alps, I think they are quite different and have their own distinct looks. So I found this sign interesting as you can tell it was made to emulate an American’s versions of what an Alpine sign might look like. By the subtle imperfections you can tell it was made by hand and not at some factory. And given the remote location, it is a safe guess to say it was made by a local artisan. What drew me to this sign was the curved “A”s that I think are trying to emulate the distinct silhouette of the Matterhorn in Switzerland. The other interesting aspect of the font are the two “T”s in “Apartments. Not as sure what those may be trying to emulate, but I think it too is trying to depict a certain mountain or Alpine theme with its very shape.

Location

198 Old McCloud Rd, Mount Shasta, CA, USA