In McDonald's branding history, what symbol became the company's logo in 1962?

In McDonald's branding history, the Golden Arches became the company's logo in 1962.

The arches originated in the architecture of McDonald's early restaurants. Architect Stanley Clark Meston designed two large yellow arches for the restaurant opened in Downey, California, in 1953. Seen from the roadside, the structures helped make the restaurant recognizable to passing motorists.

The company later combined the two arches into the stylized M associated with McDonald's. The 1962 design is generally credited to executive and design consultant Jim Schindler, who merged the arches into a single emblem. The logo was part of McDonald's effort to create a consistent national identity as franchised restaurants expanded.

The architectural arches and the graphic logo are related but not identical. Some restaurants retained physical arches, while the logo became the more widely recognized branding element. The Golden Arches remain one of the most familiar corporate symbols in the world.