He once named himself a "symbol". Now he's getting his own sign. Near his home in Chanhassen, a sign just went up outside Paisley Park that reads "Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway".
The Minnesota Department of Transportation officially put the the first purple sign up Thursday. This after lawmakers approved renaming the stretch of Highway 5 after the late icon.
Mark Webster was a longtime friend of Prince and efforted the projected.
"I was coming down the highway today, and I was just a little emotional," explained Webster. "It just came over me and I didn't know what to think. I knew this was going to be a beautiful day, the sun is out and it's warm. I'm really just lost for words."
MnDOT crews put-up the sign in front of Prince's family and friends which included his sister Sharon Nelson.
"You know Prince's DNA is all over this highway right? For so many years, he really was," said Nelson. "We're going to remember, every time we past this way, every great song he ever made."
The Minnesota legislature overwhelmingly approved renaming the seven mile stretch of highway this past session. Governor Tim Walz signed the bill into law soon after.
Webster says a larger celebration of the naming of the highway after Prince is scheduled for next week.
As with all memorial highway renaming, the costs of the signs and the ongoing maintenance must come from non-state sources. Prince’s fans have privately raised the money necessary to cover the costs of the signs and are committed to help fund the necessary maintenance according to the bill.