McDonald’s first used the Golden Arches as part of its restaurant design in 1952.
Architect Stanley Meston created the design for Richard and Maurice McDonald’s rebuilt restaurant in San Bernardino, California. The building used two tall yellow arches at opposite ends of the roof, making the restaurant visible from the road.
At first, the arches were architectural features rather than the unified corporate logo used today. Their strong shape and color made them effective roadside branding, especially in an era when drive-in restaurants competed for passing motorists.
The arches later evolved into the familiar “M” symbol. That change is why 1952 and 1962 are sometimes confused: 1952 marks the architectural introduction, while 1962 marks the well-known logo associated with Jim Schindler’s design.