If you’ve ever taken the 7 train or stood on the East Side of Manhattan at night, you’ve seen it. That massive, glowing red script across the river. It’s the Pepsi Cola sign NYC locals have treated as a North Star for decades. Honestly, it’s kinda weird when you think about it. We’re essentially worshiping a century-old soda advertisement. But in a city that’s constantly tearing itself down to build glass towers, this specific hunk of steel and neon feels like one of the few things holding the skyline together.
It isn't just a sign. It’s a landmark. Literally.
The sign sits in Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City, Queens. It didn't always live there, though. Back in the day, it was perched atop a massive bottling plant. When that plant was demolished in 1999, people panicked. They thought the glow was gone for good. But New York has a funny way of clinging to its industrial scars. The sign was saved, moved, and eventually granted official landmark status in 2016. That’s a big deal. You can't just slap a landmark sticker on a billboard. It took nearly 30 years of bureaucratic fighting to make that happen.
A Massive Piece of Steel (By the Numbers)
Size matters here. The Pepsi Cola sign NYC tourists gawk at is about 120 feet long. That’s roughly the length of two tractor-trailers parked end-to-end. The "P" and the "C" in the script? They tower at 44 feet high. Imagine a four-story building. Now imagine that building made of neon tubes and painted metal. That is the scale we are talking about.
It was built in 1940 by the General Outdoor Advertising Company. At the time, Long Island City was the industrial heart of the region. It was smoky. It was loud. It was full of factories. The sign was designed to be seen from the posh apartments across the water in Manhattan. It was a giant middle finger of commerce aimed directly at the wealthy.
The design is actually based on a 1939 Pepsi logo. You’ll notice the "bottle" part of the sign. It’s a 50-foot tall representation of the old-school glass Pepsi bottle. It looks vintage because it actually is vintage. The neon isn't some modern LED strip, either. It’s classic neon tubing, which gives it that specific, buzzy hum and that warm, slightly blurred glow that LEDs just can’t replicate.
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The 2016 Landmark Battle
Why did it take until 2016 for the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to protect it? Mostly because the LPC usually protects buildings, not "ephemera" or advertisements. There was a lot of hand-wringing. Some critics argued that we shouldn't be protecting corporate logos. Others pointed out that the sign is as much a part of the NYC waterfront as the Brooklyn Bridge.
"The Pepsi-Cola sign is a frequent and iconic sight for commuters and residents alike, and its designation ensures its place in the city's storied history." — This was the general sentiment from the LPC during the final vote.
It was a weird victory. Most signs like this—think of the old Eagle Clothes sign in Brooklyn or the various neon advertisements that used to line the West Side Highway—are long gone. They were sold for scrap or just stopped working. The Pepsi sign survived because the community basically refused to let it die. It had become a psychological anchor for the neighborhood.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Sign
You'll hear people say it’s in its original spot. Nope. Not even close. When the bottling plant closed down, the sign was actually dismantled. It sat in a state of limbo. Eventually, it was re-erected about 300 feet south of where the plant used to be. It now stands on a custom-built permanent pedestal. It’s basically a piece of sculpture now, divorced from the product it was meant to sell.
Another misconception: it’s owned by the city. It isn't. The sign is still technically maintained through agreements involving PepsiCo and the surrounding real estate developers. This creates a strange tension. The land it sits on is incredibly valuable. If it weren't for that landmark status, there would almost certainly be a luxury condo tower standing exactly where that red neon "P" is right now.
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Visiting the Pepsi Cola Sign NYC: The Real Experience
Don't just look at it from a distance. You’ve got to go to Gantry Plaza State Park. It’s free. It’s beautiful. And it’s the best place to see the sign up close.
When you stand directly under it, you realize how industrial it is. You can see the scaffolding. You can see the thick wires feeding the neon. It feels raw. The park itself is built on old piers where gantries used to unload barges. It’s a mix of high-end landscape architecture and rusty, 20th-century grit.
- The Best Time to Go: Dusk. Obviously. You want to see the moment the neon flickers to life.
- The View: Looking back at Manhattan from the sign gives you one of the best views of the United Nations building and the Chrysler Building.
- The Vibe: It’s a heavy date-night spot. Expect to see at least three engagement photo shoots happening simultaneously.
The Cultural Weight of a Soda Ad
Is it weird to feel emotional about a brand? Maybe. But for New Yorkers, the Pepsi Cola sign NYC represents a version of the city that is disappearing. It’s a reminder of when things were made here. When the East River was a highway for cargo, not just a scenic backdrop for $5,000-a-month apartments.
The sign has appeared in countless movies. The Interpreter (2005) used it as a backdrop. It shows up in Marvel movies. It’s in every B-roll shot of the New York skyline ever filmed for a sitcom. It’s shorthand for "Queens."
Actionable Tips for Photography and Travel
If you’re trying to get that perfect shot for your portfolio or just your feed, don't bring a massive tripod during peak hours. The park rangers can be a bit prickly about professional gear without a permit. Use a wide-angle lens. Since the sign is 120 feet long, you’ll struggle to fit the whole thing in the frame if you’re standing on the main path.
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Walk all the way to the end of the piers. The perspective from the water makes the sign look like it’s floating against the Manhattan skyline. If you're coming from Manhattan, take the NYC Ferry to the Hunter's Point South stop. It’s a short walk, and the ferry ride itself gives you a great angle of the sign as you approach the dock.
Honestly, the best way to see it is to just sit on one of the wooden lounge chairs in the park and watch the light change. The red neon reflects off the water in a way that’s actually pretty hypnotic. You’ll forget you’re looking at a logo. You’re just looking at New York.
How to get there right now:
- Subway: Take the 7 train to Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av. Walk west toward the water.
- Ferry: Take the East River route to Long Island City or Hunter's Point South.
- Parking: Don't. Long Island City parking is a nightmare. Use a ride-share or public transit.
The sign is a survivor. It outlasted the factory it was built for. It outlasted the era of neon dominance. It even outlasted the skepticism of the city's architectural elites. It remains a loud, red, glowing piece of the Queens identity that isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
To experience the full impact of the waterfront, start your walk at the southern end of Hunter's Point South Park and walk north toward the sign as the sun sets. This path takes you through the newest parts of the park system, ending at the historic core where the sign stands. If you want a bit of local flavor, grab a coffee at one of the spots on Center Blvd before you hit the park—just be prepared for the wind off the river, which can be brutal even in the spring. Check the light schedule if you're planning a late trip; the sign usually stays lit until the early morning hours, but the park itself has specific closing times you'll want to mind.