The 1950s McDonald's restaurant design featuring large yellow arches was called the Golden Arches.
The arches were developed as prominent architectural elements for McDonald's restaurants during the chain's early expansion. They were intended to make the buildings visible from roads and to give the restaurants a distinctive silhouette.
The design is closely associated with architect Stanley Clark Meston, who worked on the restaurant buildings and their striking arches. The arches appeared on opposite sides of some restaurants and were visible above the roofline, creating a memorable roadside sign.
The architectural feature later became the basis for McDonald's corporate logo. Although the phrase “Golden Arches” is now commonly used for the yellow “M” symbol, it originally described the physical arches built into early restaurant designs.