McDonald’s introduced its Golden Arches logo in 1962.
The logo developed from the distinctive yellow arches built into McDonald’s early restaurant architecture. In the 1950s, the arches were part of the building design rather than a fully independent corporate symbol. Their visual combination eventually formed the recognizable letter M.
The 1962 design is associated with designer Jim Schindler, who combined the arches with the McDonald’s wordmark. Later versions changed the lettering, colors, and supporting elements, but the arches remained the central visual identity.
A common mix-up is the date 1955, when Ray Kroc opened the first restaurant under the McDonald’s System name in Des Plaines, Illinois. That event was important to the company’s expansion, but it was not the introduction of the modern Golden Arches logo.