Fresno Fair museum expanding, iconic signs to bring back memories

Fresno, Calif. (KFSN) -- The wing off Jerry Thompson's racecar he used to run at Kearney Bowl served to showcase the Eddie's Speed Shop sign.

This is just one more step towards preserving and protecting a lot of the nostalgia and a lot of the great memorabilia and some of the great iconic signs that are here in Fresno.

Sparking memories is just part of CEO John Alkire's plan. Eddie's speed shop was the go-to place on Blackstone for folks who raced everything from cars to speedboats.

"The need for speed was tremendous and always has been in Fresno. That's a part of our culture. Go throughout our museums and you'll see racing about in every inch in our museum," said Alkire.

The Louie Kee Market sign has found a prominent place. The West Fresno staple closed after 93 years in business and the Fresno Motel sign offers roadside retro off the Golden State Highway.

"The Fresno Motel was family fun and affordable for everyone and you found that was a very, very popular place and that's why that sign is so important to Fresno County and the history of it," said Alkire.

Inside the Paul Paul Theater so many signs stir emotional connections to the past, the cowboy from the hacienda, Lester Burger, and the Basque Hotel--each piece part of a historical puzzle.

"It's like an Easter egg hunt Dale when you find a big egg, not just a little small egg but a big egg it means a lot to us and warms our heart because it's telling us we're hitting a nerve here in Fresno," said Alkire.