The Billboard

A billboard is a very large sign you see along roads and highways. Companies use billboards to advertise their products. The big, colorful pictures and words are designed to catch your eye as you drive by.

The History of Billboards

People have put up signs to sell things for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians used tall stone pillars to announce laws and events. Modern billboards started in the 1830s when large posters were put up on buildings.

As cars became popular in the 1900s, billboards popped up along highways. Companies realized that drivers would see their ads as they traveled. By the 1960s, billboards were everywhere along American roads.

Billboards Today

Modern billboards are huge. A standard billboard is about 14 feet tall and 48 feet wide. Some billboards now use digital screens that can change their message every few seconds.

Digital billboards can show moving images and bright colors. Some can even change their ads based on the time of day or the weather. In big cities like New York's Times Square, giant digital billboards light up the night sky.

Fun Facts

• The average American sees about 4,000 to 10,000 ads every day, including billboards.
• Times Square in New York City is famous for its giant glowing billboards.
• A standard billboard is about 14 feet tall and 48 feet wide.

Did You Know?

Some billboards now use cameras and sensors to count how many people look at them.