Restore the “R” – Historic Rainier Beer Sign

• July 26, 2012
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• Historic Signs

This is one of the coolest restoration and preservation campaigns we’ve seen. Help Pabst Brewing Company and the Museum of History and Industry restore the iconic Rainier Beer “R” sign by participating in fun and creative ways to light up the “R.” Details are in this news release below and at RestoreTheR.com.

Rainier Beer Challenges Northwest Fans to Restore Iconic “R”

Museum of History & Industry to Celebrate Historic Regional Brand 

SEATTLE—JULY 24, 2012—Today Rainier Beer, part of the Pabst Brewing Company beer portfolio, launched RestoreTheR.com to offer fans the opportunity to help the brewery restore its iconic “R” sign to its original Northwest glory.

Rainier Beer is not trying to raise money to restore the “R,” instead, the legendary local beer is asking fans to take an active part in the restoration process by visiting RestoreTheR.com, and then completing a physical challenge on the website.  For each challenge completed, one of the 250 light bulbs on the Rainier R sign will be lit up. Once all of the challenges are complete and all 250 light bulbs are lit, a select group of fans who participated in the challenges will be invited to attend a special lighting ceremony at the newly restored Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) to see the sign and celebrate the brand.

“Rainier Beer has been around longer than Washington has been a state, making it a legendary part of Northwest history,” said Evan Metropoulos, co-owner of Pabst Brewing Company. “Rainier is best symbolized by its iconic “R” sign, which was created almost 60 years ago. We’re very excited to see this important symbol come back to life.”

The 250 challenges will be released on the website and as Rainier supporters complete the challenges, more challenges will become available. Some of these challenges include creating an origami R and finding a Grazing Rainier in the wild.

“Restoring the Rainer R sign is very important to us at Pabst Brewing Company, and we know it’s important to the Northwest community,” said Daren Metropoulos, co-owner of Pabst Brewing Company. “We have so many loyal fans that will be thrilled to see this iconic sign come back to life. Together, we will re-create history by relighting the Rainier R.”

In addition to the RestoreTheR.com challenges, the Grazing Rainiers, mythical creatures best described as giant beer bottles with legs, will be roaming Seattle and Portland parks, events and neighborhoods to generate awareness for the restoration of the iconic R.  When spotting the Grazing Rainiers in the wild, loyal Rainier fans are encouraged to get their picture taken with these creatures and post it to Rainier Beer’s Facebook page.

“Few icons capture the spirit and traditions of the Northwest as powerfully as Rainier beer,” said Leonard Garfield, executive director at MOHAI. “We’re thrilled to be a part of this effort to restore and display Rainier Beer’s landmark “R” in a special place of honor at the new MOHAI. For years to come, the “R” will be a recognizable symbol that continues to grow in popularity as new generations of proud Northwesterners adopt the brand.”

The R restoration process will be completed by the end of the year and will be officially on display at the MOHAI’s new location at Lake Union Park opening on Saturday, December 29, 2012 in Seattle. Adults over 21 years of age are eligible to participate in the online challenges on RestoretheR.com. Participation is free of charge and there is no purchase necessary.

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 About Rainier Beer

Rainier Beer was launched in 1878, 35 years before Washington officially became a state, making it a legendary part of Northwest history. Rainier was purchased by Pabst Brewing Company in 1999.

Rainier Beer is best symbolized by its iconic R sign, which was created in 1953 to be placed on top of the Rainier Brewery. Although the brewery is no longer in Seattle, popularity of the brand remains strong with locals who have grown up with Rainier Beer. In fact, the brand was so ubiquitous that many people in the Northwest believed the urban legend that Mount Rainier was named after the beer. For more information, visit http://www.rainier-beer.com.

About MOHAI

The Museum of History & Industry is the largest private heritage organization in Washington attracting visitors from the Northwest and beyond, including thousands of school children. MOHAI collects, preserves and presents the rich history of the Pacific Northwest. Its engaging exhibits and programs, its collection of nearly 4 million historic artifacts, archives and photographs, and its award-winning educational programs have created an appreciation for the Northwest’s diverse cultural, social and economic history. MOHAI will be opening an exciting new history museum at the Naval Reserve Building (Armory) in Lake Union Park on December 29, 2012. Full details about the project and the capital campaign can be found at www.seattlehistory.org.