WIS 11 1938 (Wisconsin) (Road Sign) White Coffee Mug

A black-and-white reproduction of the WIS 11 route marker, the state trunk highway sign used in Wisconsin in 1938.

Visual Elements & Composition

The sign is drawn in a strict two-tone palette of black and white. Its structure is the feature that stands out: a trapezoid tab sits at the top, with the letters WIS above a rounded shield body, and the route number 11 is set in the lower shape with a pointed base. The layout is plain and high-contrast, so the numeral reads quickly against the white ceramic.

Meaning & Symbolism

The marker belongs to the early years of Wisconsin's state trunk highway system. The WIS designation in the top tab tells drivers which state the route belongs to, and the large route number does the navigating. Early marker designs like this one were an attempt to make roads easier to identify at speed, and they show how American highway signage was still taking shape in the late 1930s.

In the Hand

A mug is turned slowly in the hand, so the shield moves into view as the cup rotates and the route number is never far from the eye. The white body lets the black marker stand out cleanly, and the full wrap of the design suits a mug held during a morning pause or a stop on a long drive.