Up, up & away: Designing signage for the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum

The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Nebraska, features over 300,000 square feet of exhibits dedicated to aviation history and space exploration. Despite its impressive collection, the museum faced a challenge due to the surrounding foliage and embankments: passersby often overlooked it.

The museum collaborated with Nebraska Sign to install a 5′ X 10′ double-sided, 6mm LED display from Watchfire. We chatted with Tony Persons, project manager at Nebraska Sign, and Scott Kane, territory manager at Watchfire, about the project.

Q: How did this project with the museum come about?

A: Persons: “We were fortunate that the museum reached out to us first. They had seen another display that we had built and installed nearby, so they asked if we could help them increase visibility. The museum is set back from the highway, surrounded by trees and berms, and adjacent to a busy state park. They wanted to capture some of that park traffic and turn day-trippers and campers into museum visitors. The idea was to create a landmark closer to the road that would make people stop and say, ‘What’s going on over there?’ That’s how the conversation started, and we worked closely with them to make it happen.”

Q: Can you walk us through the design process?

A: Persons: “The museum’s team came in with a strong vision. Jeff Kalasky, their operations VP, and Clayton Anderson, Nebraska’s astronaut, museum advocate, and executive director at the time, had specific ideas. They wanted the sign to evoke the wing of an aircraft — sleek, silver aluminum with aviation-inspired lines. Clayton also wanted the ability to showcase his photos from space. That made the project more than just a sign; it became a way to connect Nebraska to aerospace history. We took their sketches, worked through state restrictions, and translated all of that into a design that was both eye-catching and practical for the location.”

A: Kane: “From Watchfire’s standpoint, our job was to ensure the display technology met that vision. We supported the project with multiple demo truck visits. It’s one thing to talk about pixel pitch or resolution on paper, but when you can park a 6mm or 8mm display by the highway and let the customer walk around it, suddenly the value clicks. That’s what helped the museum team visualize the impact a high-resolution display would make.”

“Once we showed the museum staff our larger 6mm demo, they immediately saw the difference in clarity and presence. Choosing the right resolution is like buying toward the front end of technology. You want the sign to look sharp, not just today but 10 years down the road. By going with 6mm, the museum invested in something that will hold up visually for years, even as signage continues to innovate.”

Q: What about the fabrication process?

A: Persons: “We’re lucky to have a fabrication team with unmatched experience. Two of our craftsmen, both named Randy, have been doing this for nearly 50 years each. The structure was built using thick-gauge aluminum framing and panels, all welded by hand and finished with a Matthews enamel paint system in our paint booth. Nothing is outsourced; we take pride in doing it all in-house. Even the rockets on the sign were drawn in CorelDRAW and cut on our CNC router. It’s an old-school approach that combines craftsmanship with durability. When you see the final product, you know it’s built to last.”

A: Kane: “That’s the strength of working with a full-service dealer like Nebraska Sign. Customers sometimes don’t realize how much of a sign project can be outsourced. But when you visit their shop, you’re seeing the real deal, with design, fabrication, welding, painting, and assembly all happening under one roof. That gives customers confidence that the same people who built it will also stand behind it for service.”

Q: What can you tell us about the installation process?

A: Persons: “Installation is where all the planning pays off. Once the footings were inspected and poured, we set the pole in place in about a day. A week later, once the concrete cured, we brought in a three-man crew and a boom truck for the install. Because the sign is large, it had to be transported in sections and carefully assembled on-site. From start to finish, it was about a day and a half of fieldwork. For a sign of this scale and complexity, that’s actually pretty quick.”

A: Kane: “What impressed me most was that Nebraska Sign was so committed to the museum’s vision that they were working before all the funding was finalized. That made the installation go quickly, and it speaks volumes about their partnership. They weren’t just a vendor; they were invested in making this project a success from day one.”

Q: What was the timetable, and what did it take to complete the sign?

A: Persons: “This project took patience. We probably started the conversation back in 2021 and went through a leadership change at the museum. There were funding delays, permitting hurdles, and zoning adjustments, including buying land from a neighboring property to meet state setback requirements. Once everything was greenlit, though, the fabrication and installation moved quickly. It took about six weeks to build and paint, followed by a day and a half to two days for installation.”

A: Kane: “On our side, it was about staying flexible. Because of the turnover in museum leadership, we ended up doing four demos instead of the usual one. Every new director wanted to see the technology firsthand, and we were happy to support that. It added time, but it also reinforced confidence in the decision. And in the end, the sign was worth the wait.”

Q: What were some of the major challenges?

A: Persons: “Permitting and power were the toughest parts. The sign is on a state highway, which meant we had to work directly with the Nebraska Department of Transportation to meet setback and visibility requirements. The museum had to acquire land from a neighbor just to make it feasible. Then there was the challenge of running power. The building sits far back from the road, so we had to work with Omaha Public Power to trench electricity to the sign location.” 

A: Kane: “The budget process was also challenging. This wasn’t a private business writing one check; it was a publicly funded museum piecing together grants and allocations. Having a partner who knows the local players and can navigate those complexities is invaluable.”

Q: Were there any aspects of the project you found particularly unique?

A: Persons: “Absolutely. You don’t often get to work with an astronaut on a signage project. Clayton Anderson’s input — from requesting his photos be displayed to making sure the design reflected aerospace themes — gave the project a personality all its own. It wasn’t just about visibility; it was about storytelling.”

A: Kane: “I agree. From my perspective, what made it unique was a combination of things: the personal involvement of Nebraska’s astronaut, the handcrafted aviation-inspired design, and the decision to invest in cutting-edge resolution that will stand the test of time. It’s a perfect example of what happens when you combine technology, craftsmanship, and vision. The end result is a landmark that represents the museum’s mission.”

We have liftoff

With this vibrant new sign, the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum has significantly enhanced its roadside presence, inviting more visitors to explore the incredible history hidden just behind the trees.