Why is the billboard on Mt. Washington so controversial in Pittsburgh?

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The iconic Iron City Beer sign has returned to Mt. Washington.

The new sign is about 200 feet long - roughly one third of the original sign from 1938.

The billboard itself has been a source of controversy for some time in Pittsburgh.

Ben Butler, founder of Top Hat (the advertising agency for Pittsburgh Brewing), told the KDKA Radio Morning Show, "Sometimes things just become controversial based on where they are or what they are and some of the history around it.

"I think this billboard in particular, it had a little bit of history of that, but I think with the Sprint sign going up and being a very violent yellow kind of color is what put it back into the radar, at least as far as the City is concerned," he said.

Butler said the billboard was erected around 1921 and Iron City Beer was one of the original advertisers on the billboard dating back to the 1930's.

Iron City Beer sign on Mt Washington in 1952
Iron City Beer sign on Mt Washington in 1952 Photo credit Ben Butler of Top Hat

Lamar Advertising manages the billboard and worked with Butler to bring Iron City Beer back onto the sign.

Iron City Beer will be on the sign for at least the next 12 months.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Ben Butler of Top Hat