Plans to relocate Boston’s landmark CITGO sign get final approval
YOU MIGHT NOT EVEN HAVE REALIZED THAT YOU WERE MISSING. IT’S AS ICONIC AS THE PRUDENTIAL CENTER, FENWAY AND THE BOSTON MARATHON, AND SOON THE CITGO SIGN IS GOING TO BE MAKING A BIG MOVE TO EVEN BIGGER HEIGHTS WITH AN EVEN BETTER VIEW. IT’S BIGGER THAN IT LOOKS. I THINK CISCO, THEY THINK OF THIS AS THEIR SIGN. BOSTON. WE THINK OF THIS AS OUR SIGN. THIS IS A TREASURE. BOSTON IS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE THIS SIGN. IT’S 11 FOOT LETTERS AND ICONIC RED LOGO ARE A PILLAR OF BOSTON’S SKYLINE, AND HAVE SEEN AS MUCH CHANGE AS THE CITY ITSELF. IT’S BEEN IN THE BOSTON SKYLINE FOR SINCE THE 1940S, RIGHT? FIRST, AS THE CITY SERVICES SIGN. THEN IN THE 60S, IT WAS CONVERTED TO THE CITGO SIGN, AS YOU SEE IT NOW. ADAM METZ IS A PROJECT …
Plans to relocate Boston’s landmark CITGO sign get final approval
YOU MIGHT NOT EVEN HAVE REALIZED THAT YOU WERE MISSING. IT’S AS ICONIC AS THE PRUDENTIAL CENTER, FENWAY AND THE BOSTON MARATHON, AND SOON THE CITGO SIGN IS GOING TO BE MAKING A BIG MOVE TO EVEN BIGGER HEIGHTS WITH AN EVEN BETTER VIEW. IT’S BIGGER THAN IT LOOKS. I THINK CISCO, THEY THINK OF THIS AS THEIR SIGN. BOSTON. WE THINK OF THIS AS OUR SIGN. THIS IS A TREASURE. BOSTON IS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE THIS SIGN. IT’S 11 FOOT LETTERS AND ICONIC RED LOGO ARE A PILLAR OF BOSTON’S SKYLINE, AND HAVE SEEN AS MUCH CHANGE AS THE CITY ITSELF. IT’S BEEN IN THE BOSTON SKYLINE FOR SINCE THE 1940S, RIGHT? FIRST, AS THE CITY SERVICES SIGN. THEN IN THE 60S, IT WAS CONVERTED TO THE CITGO SIGN, AS YOU SEE IT NOW. ADAM METZ IS A PROJECT ENGINEER FOR CITGO PETROLEUM. HE’S ONE OF THE MINDS BEHIND THE SIGNS. BIG MOVE AND BIG UPGRADE WILL BE REPLACING THE WHITE PANELS WITH NEW PANELS AND THEN REFURBISHING THE LETTERS AND LOGO AND REINSTALLING IT ON THE NEW LOCATION, PIECE BY PIECE. THE 60 BY 60 FOOT SIGN WILL MOVE 30FT HIGHER AND ABOUT 120FT BACK ONTO THESE BRAND NEW METAL PLATES. OH, IT’S GOING TO BE GREAT. IT WILL RESTORE THE SIGHT LINES OF THE ORIGINAL SIGN LOCATION. STEVE ABRAMS IS CEO OF FEDERAL HEAT SIGN COMPANY. FOR 124 YEARS, THEY’VE BEEN SERVICING SIGNS AROUND THE COUNTRY. THE CITGO SIGN IS ONE OF THEIR OLDEST, AND SOON IT WILL MOVE INTO ITS NEXT PHASE OF LIFE. THERE WON’T BE ANY OBSTRUCTIONS. IT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL, AND IT WILL BE WELL ILLUMINATED. AND IT WILL LOOK BRAND NEW. WE’RE PROUD OF IT. WE LOVE IT. OVER THE YEARS, THE CITGO SIGN HAS SEEN A NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE PANELS IN 2004 TO UPGRADE THE LIGHTS, A JOB IRONWORKER, DJ NORTON REMEMBERS WELL. IT WAS SO IN DEMAND THAT WHEN I PUT IT IN THE PARKING LOT TO GET RID OF IT, PEOPLE WANTED PIECES OF IT. SO MY MAN LITERALLY CUT IT UP AND PEOPLE TOOK IT. I DIDN’T EVEN HAVE TO GET RID OF IT. AND AS CREWS GET READY TO MOVE THE SIGN HIGHER IN THE SKY, THOSE WHO KNOW AND LOVE IT. THIS IS THE LAND UNDER THE CITGO SIGN ARE HAPPY TO SEE IT SHINE. FOR IT TO BE PROMINENT AND VISIBLE IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US IN THE SQUARE. THE PERMITTING PROCESS IS ALREADY UNDERWAY. THE BALL IS ROLLING, SO KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE SKYLINE FOR THE CITGO SIGNS. BIG MOVE EIGHT STORIES UP
Plans to relocate Boston’s landmark CITGO sign get final approval
Updated: 1:27 PM EDT Oct 15, 2025
The last phase in moving the CITGO sign over Kenmore Square, one of Boston’s most recognizable modern landmarks, is underway after getting final approval from the city. The restoration and repositioning of the sign is the final piece of the redevelopment project at 660 Beacon St. The sign is being moved to ensure its visibility for years to come.“Whether it’s fans going to Fenway for a Red Sox game, marathon participants on their final stretch of the race going through Kenmore Square, students walking along Commonwealth Avenue, or tourists coming to check out all that this great city has to offer, the CITGO Sign has long served as an iconic landmark for Boston residents and visitors of Boston,” Gov. Maura Healey said. The sign will be positioned 30 feet higher and 120 feet to the east to restore and preserve the original view corridor, ensuring it can be enjoyed by the public from its permanent home in Kenmore Square.“The CITGO Sign is a beloved treasure for Kenmore Square and residents across Boston,” Mayor Michelle Wu said. “I’m thrilled and grateful that so many partners came together to preserve this iconic Sign for generations to come.“A sign at that location first became part of the Boston skyline in 1940, but at the time, it had a different logo. The original sign said “Cities Service,” which was a brand name prior to the creation of the CITGO brand and triangle-shaped logo in 1965.Since then, the 11-foot letters and iconic red logo have become synonymous with the city’s skyline.Piece by piece, the 60-foot-by-60-foot sign will be moved and anchored to new, custom footings recently installed on the roof of the Beacon Street building.Planning for the sign’s future began in 2018 and involved the review of several city organizations. “CITGO may think of this as their sign, but in Boston, we think of it as ours,” said Boston City Councilor Sharon Durkan, who represents Kenmore Square. “This repositioning makes a bright future for the Sign to continue to shine as the beacon of Kenmore Square.”
BOSTON —
The last phase in moving the CITGO sign over Kenmore Square, one of Boston’s most recognizable modern landmarks, is underway after getting final approval from the city.
The restoration and repositioning of the sign is the final piece of the redevelopment project at 660 Beacon St. The sign is being moved to ensure its visibility for years to come.
“Whether it’s fans going to Fenway for a Red Sox game, marathon participants on their final stretch of the race going through Kenmore Square, students walking along Commonwealth Avenue, or tourists coming to check out all that this great city has to offer, the CITGO Sign has long served as an iconic landmark for Boston residents and visitors of Boston,” Gov. Maura Healey said.
The sign will be positioned 30 feet higher and 120 feet to the east to restore and preserve the original view corridor, ensuring it can be enjoyed by the public from its permanent home in Kenmore Square.
“The CITGO Sign is a beloved treasure for Kenmore Square and residents across Boston,” Mayor Michelle Wu said. “I’m thrilled and grateful that so many partners came together to preserve this iconic Sign for generations to come.”
A sign at that location first became part of the Boston skyline in 1940, but at the time, it had a different logo. The original sign said “Cities Service,” which was a brand name prior to the creation of the CITGO brand and triangle-shaped logo in 1965.
Since then, the 11-foot letters and iconic red logo have become synonymous with the city’s skyline.
Piece by piece, the 60-foot-by-60-foot sign will be moved and anchored to new, custom footings recently installed on the roof of the Beacon Street building.
Planning for the sign’s future began in 2018 and involved the review of several city organizations.
“CITGO may think of this as their sign, but in Boston, we think of it as ours,” said Boston City Councilor Sharon Durkan, who represents Kenmore Square. “This repositioning makes a bright future for the Sign to continue to shine as the beacon of Kenmore Square.”