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Jeffrey Filippi stood alone in the rain in downtown Redwood City at 5 a.m. on a Saturday. It was1994. The bad weather kept others away, but nothing was going to stop him from witnessing the moment he had spent four years working toward — the long-awaited return of Redwood City’s iconic sign on Broadway after nearly 24 years.
“I was waiting, freezing and so excited in anticipation,” Filippi said.
On Feb. 11, the Rotary Club of Redwood City celebrated 100 years since the city’s iconic “Climate Best by Government Test” arches were first installed. The event, held at the Redwood City Salvation Army on Veterans Boulevard, featured a presentation by Filippi, who took attendees on a journey through the arches’ history — from their origins and eventual removal to his mission to restore them.
Filippi is a chiropractor with a passion for history who was born and raised in Redwood City. He said in his presentation that the original arch dates back to the early 20th century. In 1914, Redwood City leaders were looking for ways to bring in more people and businesses. One of their earliest ideas was a lit sign near the railroad, ensuring that passing trains would see the name “Redwood City.”
In the early 1920s, city leaders launched a contest to find a slogan to distinguish the city. In 1925, Wilbur Doxsee, the then president of the Redwood City Chamber of Commerce came up with the winning phrase, supposedly referencing a German study ranking Redwood City’s climate among the world’s best. Though the study’s existence remains unverified, the slogan stuck and became an integral part of the city’s identity.
By 1926, the city had installed two grand arches: one on Broadway and El Camino Real and another on the southern entrance. The arches bore the city’s now-famous slogan, “Climate Best by Government Test.”
By the mid-20th century, however, the landscape of Redwood City was changing. The rise of modern signage, increased traffic, and urban development led to new regulations. In 1963, the city council passed a stricter sign ordinance banning neon displays. It was later found that the city’s own arches weren’t compliant with the new law, and so they were taken down.
Filippi recalls riding along El Camino Real in his grandparents’ 1965 station wagon as a kid, spotting the original arch and knowing he was almost home. That nostalgia inspired his mission to restore the historic landmark.
“If you were born and raised (in Redwood City) and you saw that sign, it was part of you,” he added.
He began by diving into historical archives, searching for photographs, blueprints and city records to ensure that the restored arch would be as close to the original as possible. He worked with structural engineers to design a modern version that maintained the historic integrity while complying with contemporary safety and building codes.
Through a combination of private donations, city grants and fundraising events, the project gained momentum. The final installation required precise coordination, with construction teams carefully anchoring the structure at its historic location, ensuring that it would stand strong for generations to come.
Filippi also wrote a book, “Bringing Back the Arch: The Story of Redwood City’s Historic Gateway,” that chronicles the history of the original structure and the journey to its revival.
The new arches were installed in 1994 and 1995, respectively, both on Broadway in downtown Redwood City.
“One word, jubilation,” said Filippi, describing how he was feeling seeing the first sign being put up before him. “I mean I worked so hard for four years….And it (the sign) was magnificent. I was in awe of it.”
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