As part of ongoing initiatives over the years to welcome visitors to Ames and beautify our entryways, The Ames Foundation arranged for the construction of a large sign at the southwest corner of the Interstate 35 and 13th Street intersection. It is constructed of limestone columns, with stainless steel letters, and is lighted at night. It sits on a landscaped area just north of the Danfoss facility. Ribbon cutting was on October 31, 2001.
The Ames Foundation revisited this project in October 2016. A crew of volunteers cleaned out overgrown bushes, and touched up the landscaping. The next steps are to build similar signs around other entryways into our community. In the summer of 2017, two additional signs mirroring the original 2001 sign were constructed on the East and West ends of Highway 30.