SEATTLE — The Rainier “R” lit up the sky for nearly 50 years, and on Thursday, a 12-foot replica of the original Rainier R dangled from a crane, ready to make a celebratory return.
Western Crane Inc. made the return of the iconic “R” possible with their Terex-Demag AC 80-2
The original neon R that perched above what was once the sixth biggest brewery in the world, now rests restored at the Museum of History and Industry.
Seattle sign company Western Neon – which made the neon green Tully’s T – used old plans to recreate the new Rainier R. The team spent hours turning gas and glass into the light that will welcome travelers along I-5 into Seattle.
“It’s exciting for us ’cause it gives us the opportunity to not work on just another sign, but a very historical, iconic landmark,” Andre Lucero says.
470 LED bulbs brighten the big R, twice the original number, and the bulbs are now on both sides.
The R will complete its return late Thursday with a public unveiling. The green “T” that went up when Tully’s took over doesn’t have a home yet, but the search is on for its own iconic location.
