The Golden Arches became McDonald's most recognizable brand symbol after the first arches were introduced in 1952.
Architect Stanley Clark Meston designed the arches for the McDonald's restaurant in San Bernardino, California. The large yellow structures were intended to make the restaurant visible from the road and gave the building a distinctive silhouette.
The arches later evolved from roadside architectural features into a graphic logo. In 1962, designer Jim Schindler combined the two arches into the familiar “M” mark. A common mix-up is assuming the logo began as a simple letter; historically, it developed from physical restaurant architecture.