Which McDonald's symbol was first introduced as part of the restaurant buildings in the 1950s?

The Golden Arches were first introduced as part of McDonald's restaurant buildings in the 1950s.

The early restaurants used large yellow arches on either side of the building. Their purpose was practical as well as visual: the tall forms helped the roadside restaurants stand out to passing motorists. The design was developed for the McDonald's restaurant opened in Phoenix in 1953.

The arches later became a corporate logo when the separate architectural elements were combined into an M. This history means the Golden Arches are both a building design and a brand symbol. The term is sometimes used only for the logo, but its branding story began with physical restaurant architecture.