page_title: U.S. Route shield
section_title: 1948 version
hierarchical_section_title: U.S. Route shield / History / 1948 version
caption_attribution_description: English: Old-style shields for w:U.S. Highway 6 and w:U.S. Highway 202 in w:Connecticut. Taken August 29, 2003 by User:SPUI.
context_page_description: The U.S. Route shield is the highway marker used for United States Numbered Highways. Since the first U.S. Route signs were installed in 1926, the general idea has remained the same, but many changes have been made in the details. Originally, the shield included the name of the state in which the sign was erected and the letters "U S" on a shield-shaped sign. Over time, the shield has been simplified to consist of a white shield outline on a black square background, containing only a black route number. However, because each state is responsible for the production and maintenance of U.S. Route shields, several variants of the shield have existed over the years.
context_section_description: The 1948 edition of the MUTCD introduced the first change to the U.S. Route shield since its appearance in the 1927 AASHO manual.  The old block typefaces were replaced by the modern FHWA Series typefaces, which had since been developed. The shield shape and size, letter height, and layout was otherwise identical to the prior version.
  The 1948 MUTCD also included a specification for an "oversize" route marker, intended for major highway junctions in rural areas, as well as for special emphasis in urban areas. This shield was printed on a square blank, 24 by 24 inches (61 cm × 61 cm), twice the size of the cutout shield. This version of the shield was much simplified, with the crossbar, state name, and "U S" omitted. The portion of the blank falling outside of the shield outline was white.
caption: 1948-style shields for US 6 and US 202 in Connecticut, with the state name abbreviated
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