What two-color architectural symbol became the basis of McDonald's logo in 1962?

The Golden Arches became the basis of McDonald's logo in 1962.

The arches began as physical features of McDonald's restaurant buildings rather than as a purely graphic invention. Architect Stanley Clark Meston designed the restaurant buildings with large yellow arches at the sides, making them visible from passing roads. The shape helped distinguish the restaurants in the growing American roadside landscape.

In 1962, McDonald's adopted a logo that combined the two arches into a stylized M. The symbol gradually became more important than the buildings themselves and eventually became one of the world's most recognizable corporate marks. A common mix-up is assuming the arches were originally created only for advertising; they first functioned as architectural signage. The logo also changed over time as the company simplified its lettering, colors, and surrounding shapes.