Some Ohio Bicentennial Logos On Barns Are Fading

The logos celebrating the state's bicentennial painted on 88 barns more than a decade ago have begun to show signs of age. Some of the wall-size logos have faded, others have been retouched and others have vanished altogether. The signs, which prominently show the word Ohio and the contour of the state, were painted in one barn in each of Ohio's counties. A member of the commission that coordinated the bicentennial celebrations told the newspaper the paintings were a cost-effective marketing campaign and were not intended to last forever. Stephen George says painting each barn cost around $1,500. The rent for a billboard at the time was about $2,000. A 19-year-old man painted the barns. At least one was signed by former Gov. Bob Taft.