What architectural symbol became McDonald's main logo in 1962?

McDonald's adopted the Golden Arches as its main logo in 1962.

The arches originated in the architecture of early McDonald's restaurants. Architect Stanley Clark Meston designed two large yellow arches for the restaurant buildings in 1952, making them visible from the road and giving the simple drive-in a distinctive silhouette.

When McDonald's moved toward a standardized national identity, the company combined the arches into the familiar letter M. Jim Schindler is credited with creating the 1962 logo treatment, which turned a building feature into a highly recognizable corporate mark.

The arches are sometimes confused with the older individual side arches, but the logo refers to the joined, stylized form. Their bright yellow color and simple shape helped the mark work on signs, packaging, uniforms, and advertising around the world.