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Our
first two sign locations have been determined. One is west of Dubuque
on Hwy 20 on land donated to the project by the sign's first contractor,
Mike Portzen Construction. A second location has been identified
thanks to the generosity of the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation.
The site is along US 51/161 just past Data Drive on Dubuque Technology
Park property. Thanks to Rick Dickinson, CEO of GDDC for the land.
Our first major benefactor was Dubuque Racing Association whose grant of $27,000 paid for our first sign on US 61/151 southwest of the city. It's magnificent!
The influences in the design were the very environment that comprises Dubuque's landscape, its buildings, its architectural place in history. The bas-relief fluer de lis on the top of the panel pays homage to the French Canadian explorer and entrepreneur for whom our town is named. Design Evolution -Gary Olsen
My original thought was to build a grand Gateway of native materials, primarily limestone, which I've had some experience with. I designed the stone Dubuque Shooting Park sign some years ago in the shape of Iowa, and it has obviously held up well, though it could use a sand blasting to clean up the face, and some of the adjoining bushes should be trimmed back. One thing I learned from that experience is, if you can, polish the face of the stone smooth, this makes for better contrast between the lettering and the signs surface, and it weathers better. Rough stone darkens with age. The
lettering style is critically important to the concept. If done
correctly, it becomes more than a sign, it becomes a brand or a
logo. The lettering in the name must serve to unify, and putting
the name in a gentle curve does more than allow us to fit more type
comfortably below the name, it serves as a reminder that this is
a gateway to a great city of which we are very proud. The arch also
subtly evokes strength. Another early concept I had was to make the entire sign out of limestone. But then I realized that all stone is rather monochromatic and bland looking when compared to a sign made of red brick and stone. The red brick offers a contrast opportunity that makes the sign's stone face stand out even more visibly. So I quickly went from an all stone concept to one of brick and stone. Plus, with the brick, I can evoke the city's many tall Victorian chimneys that give so much character to the cityscape.
I got a little carried away with the brick in one of my early designs. The one below has these wings that add length to the sign, but only serve to make the face of the sign appear smaller from a distance. Plus, the wings and this sign face below, look like a New England style sign. I don't want to look like New England. Houses in the Midwest, and particularly in Dubuque, are taller than those found in Connecticut. Cape Cods are seldom more than two stories tall, for example. But Victorian homes, for which Dubuque is famous, were three stories tall. That was the Victorian ideal... tall roofs and taller chimneys.
I took that round cut out of the top of the sign's face (once again, too New Englandy) and replaced it with a rounded top against which I could put a fleur de lis, the symbol of our city's French Canadian founder, Julien Dubuque.
The wings quickly disappeared from my design and were replaced by graduated columns, two of which would support the sign's face, the others would be free standing, slightly behind the support columns. This design is somewhat similar to my old wooden signs, but that's okay. The concept works well. The sign's face needs to be the largest dimensional element, not the support structure. Once I got these elements into the computer where I could play with them, there were all kinds of variations on a theme as you can see at right. Even a couple of asymmetrical designs which I enjoy a lot. Location, Location Location Here's the latest news: we have a first location thanks to Dubuque Technology Park, Southwest of town. Rick Dickinson is allowing us to build the first sign on that property, and the location is ideal. It catches the incoming traffic from Cascade and Cedar Rapids, and the traffic from the air port and Quad Cities. As you come up the hill, you can see the ideal spot on the right hand side. Keep this page marked as a favorite so you can check back for continuing news on this project.
Archive Collectibles
Instructions for printing the HiRes file: Once the large file downloads into your browser, right click on it to save it to a directory on your hard drive. This is a high res jpg file in RGB. For four color process (commercial press) you'll have to change the color mode from RGB to CMYK and save it as an eps file. If you are printing on an ink jet or color laser printer, it's best to leave it as an RGB JPG file and let the printer optimize the file using it's built-in color conversion. HP, Canon, Xerox, LexMark and Epson inkjet printers print RGB JPG files the best.
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Our first Gateway sign has been built southwest of the city, and we have more yet to build! The City of Dubuque wants our design on the new "Downtown Gateway" and we have land donated to the project on Dubuque's U.S.20 approach west of town. We are now looking for construction sponsors for these two signs. Just think about it. How many community projects have you heard of or participated in where the result and good will likely last more than 100 years? And for less than $25,000, you can build one in your organization's name! E-mail me and we'll bring all our dogs and ponies to your office and put on a show you will love. --Gary Olsen, Designer and Rotary Club Project Chairman
The entire club turned out for this photo to kick off the Gateway Project. Within six months of this photo, we had our first Gateway sign constructed southwest of Dubuque.
Promotional sponsors such as Hy-Vee, got on board quickly and helped promote the concept to the community with huge posters in their stores. Members of the Press: Click on the Gateway sign below to download the printable version suitable for publication. This is the final and approved design that will be used in the first two sign locations. Click here for further printing instructions if you need them.
The Smith family, owners of Stone Cliff Winery, join Gary Olsen, chair of the Dubuque Gateway Project, in a check presentation amounting to $4,100. The money is the Rotary Club's share of the proceeds from wine sales that featured a label that depicted Gary's original painting of the Grand Excursion and Dubuque's river front. The fundraiser idea was developed through a collaboration among Bob and Nan Smith and Gary Olsen to capitalize on the Grand Excursion event held this past June. More than 1,300 bottles were sold over a two month period making this one of Stone Cliff's best special label promotions ever according to Bob. You can hear the presentation remarks on the recording we made in the right-hand column. Click on the PLAY button. In honor of their contribution, Dubuque Rotary has inaugurated the Dubuque Rotary Club Community Partner Award and presented the first one ever to Stone Cliff Winery. Far left is daughter, Sydney Smith, whose job it was attaching the labels to over 1,300 bottles of wine. This great photo was taken by Corey Roeder. The Christening Ceremony dedicating the First Dubuque Gateway Sign was held on Monday June 7th. Here's the invitation and a map to the precise location!
Above is the historic invitation that you can download and keep as a momento of this splendid event. This website serves as an archive for all things related to the Gateway Project.
The Dubuque Ambassadors were on hand to help with the ceremony, and the event was covered on all the radio stations of the Radio Dubuque company that included KGRR, KATFM, KDTH, and The River. It was an awesome event covered by all of Dubuque's (and Eastern Iowa's) major media outlets including KWWL, KCRG, and the Telegraph Herald. Now we are working on the next sign project, which will be west of Dubuque on HWY 20. The land is being prepared as you read this. Stay connected to the website for all future developments. And thank you everyone for your kind support in this endeavor. Gary Olsen, Project Chairman and Designer Painting and Print Help Promote the Dubuque Gateway Project
Wednesday, March 31st, the Dubuque Rotary Club organized a fabulous party for the grand unveiling of the newest print by Rotary Club member, Gary Olsen. The painting, The Grand Excursion, Dubuque, Iowa, was published as a limited edition print which was sold for the first time at this event. Print sales will benefit the Rotary's Gateway Project that will put five stone, brick and steel welcome signs at the five entrances of our city. Meanwhile, the painting that Gary created was unveiled before at least 250 people (maybe more) with the full compliment of Dubuque Ambassaors on hand. The event was a smashing success, and thanks to all of the wonderful Rotarians who showed up and pitched in the help sell prints, tickets for the drawings, and all of the other tasks that had to be done. We also had a lot of fun. Thanks to the sponsors, including the newest sponsors, Creative Touch Gallery, Diamond Jo Casino, and Stone Cliff Winery. Click here for the photos on dubuque365.com. Also,.click here or on the photo to see the story about the painting. The painting is now on display at Dubuque's National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium and is touring the Tri-State Area with Gary at print signing and sales venues. Promotional
Partners:
Would you like a scale drawing of this design? Click here!
Sign Face Type Pattern for downloading... click to download high res copy.
The unveling of "The Gateway Project" at SwingFest in July 2003. The project team's Gary Olsen and Paul Hemmer describe the Gateweay's design and construction materials to the audience. Background designs that lead us to this point in time:
The porcelain plate on the right hand side is the logo of the Rotary Club on behalf of the citizens of Dubuque who are raising the money for the construction of these signs. This design would feature recessed flood lighting in the base of the sign. The America's River logo will be laser cut from steel and powder coated by a local manufacturer who has such equipment. The rest of the lettering will be sandblasted and painted into the polished surface of native limestone. Click here if you would like a 17x22 inch 72dpi (large) version of the image above.  Design
2 features a non-symetrical approach, and I really like this.
The idea that the sign would be illuminated with both flood lights
and decorative lights make the sign even more noticeable and the luminiares
tie in nicely with the rest of the city's street decor.
 Design
4: An asymmetrical design that is not a total departure from the
influences of the first designs. This design allows us to make an
even larger sign. With the larger roughhewn limestone block that serves
as the sign, it will need more substantial structural support, hence
the four courses of bricks supporting the bottom of the face. I staggered
the chimneys to create an even more interesting arrangement. When
you do a design like this, you want to avoid looking like a tombstone.
The presence of the bricks mitigates that perception. An architect
friend of mine with whom I am consulting suggested the asymmetrical
look because it looks like a flag or banner pointing the way... like
a hand. This is the second version of this sign design. I added a
ledge of stone (which will be bevelled away from the surface like
a small roof. This will shed water better, and snow and ice won't
build up on the surface causing a maintenance problem later.
 Design
5
features
acorn street lamps. This will look lovely, but over the last few months,
this design has lost some points to Design 4 which features the wrought
iron architectural lamp cages. Same design, just different decorations.
The preference for Design 4 comes from architects, engineers, and
other professional consultants with whom we collaborated. I like this,
and I would be very comfortable and proud of the finished product.
The lights would look quite spectacular, but it may contribute to
a significant sign maintenance issue. However, the lights are identical
to those used on other downtown fixtures, so spares will be on hand
during the normal course of maintenance.
You can click on most of the images above to download larger more printable versions.
"Why can't we use all of the designs? Use the best design for the location in which it is displayed?" Certainly an interesting idea and certainly doable. One thing we must consider, however, is that if you do a sign well, it becomes a logo or a trademark for its city. In that case, you may want to be consistent. The most important thing to me is, I woud be happy with any one of these designs. I'm just honored to have the opportunity to provide these designs. Bookmark this page to see additional modifications in the months to come. --G.O.
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elcome to Dubuque, Iowa's
Gateway Project Page! As you can see, we've already made quite a
bit of progress on this worthwhile project, the goal of which is
to put signs like this one at every major entrance to the city.
The concept for this project was initiated by Dubuque artist, Gary
Olsen, in collaboration with the City of Dubuque, and the Dubuque
Rotary Club. Gary is known for his sweeping cityscapes, watercolors
and oil paintings of Dubuque area views and landmarks. He designed
the most recent wooden Gateways that are at two of our city's entrances.
Also noteworthy, Gary is the director of Web Development and Public
Affairs for the 
designed the original wooden welcome signs for Dubuque that are
currently in a state of disrepair. One is west of town on Highway
20 at Warren Plaza, and the other is on 16th and Kerper Blvd. That
particular sign will soon be removed. I'm not sad. We had a good
run with these signs (nearly 25 years old), but it's time to replace
them. Besides, the Kerper Blvd. sign is probably not in the best
location for all of the traffic that enters Dubuque from Wisconsin
which now streams on an elevated highway overhead. More about a
possible location for the Wisconsin traffic later.
Dear Friends:
he
Dubuque Rotary Club celebrated with gusto the completion of the
first of five Gateway signs with a christening on Monday, June 7,
at 5:30 PM. The location is on Hwy 61/151 East side of the highway
adjacent to the McLeod Building and facing south 200 feet from the
edge of the highway. The event was attended by city officials and
sponsors who have been loyal and generous in their support of this
project. It was all captured on video, and a clip library is being
built for inclusion on this website. Be watching for it. 
Design
1 features my first concept, but as you can see, we can embellish
with what is called "street furniture," in the examples
below. On Design 2 are acorn-shaped post-top luminiares that match
the ones we have downtown on our newly restored Main Street. But
the design above would certainly represent the least expensive of
the designs I've come up with so far. Another thing I like about
this simple design is the arrangement of the letters. This sign
becomes a trademark or logo more easily than the assymmetrical concept
of Designs 4 and 5. Also, this design is more traditional where
Designs 4 and 5 are more modern.
Design
3: These wrought iron post tops (for lack of a better term at
the moment) are actually illuminated by a recessed light in the
base. I'm not sure how well they will show up, but perhaps they
can be augmented with a box of frosted Lexan inside the iron framework.
All this is subject to negotiation, of course. The design borrows
from features of the new Main Street Project. What I continually
hear from people who see this design and the one below is "looks
like Clarke College's sign." Indeed, the luminiares of powder-coated
welded steel do evoke the Clarke's sign, but that's not a good thing
from my point of view. It also evokes the luminaires that decorate
downtown's Maint Street redesign. I like them alot. They are somewhat
evocative of Frank Lloyd Wright designs, wouldn't you say? For the
record, Frank Lloyd Wright often visited Dubuque from his headquarters
in Spring Green, WI, but he never had a design commission here.
He would buy his household goods from Rosheks Department Store.
logical question
at this point is, "Gary... which one of these designs do you
like best?" I love them all! I teach design classes at Clarke
College, and I always tell my students, "Never put a design
you hate among ones you love thinking it would make your first choice
look better to the client. More often than not, the client will
pick the ugly one, and you'll have to make it work, and hate yourself
throughout the entire project and beyond." One
of the best compliments paid to me so far about this project was
in the form of a question from Dubuque City Manager Mike Van Milligen.
