<P> The Golden Arches are the symbol of McDonald's, the global fast - food restaurant chain . Originally, real arches were part of the restaurant design . They were incorporated into the chain's logo in 1962, which resembled a stylized restaurant, and in the current Golden Arches logo, introduced 1968, resembling an "M" for "McDonald's". </P> <P> In 1952, brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald decided they needed a new building to house their hamburger restaurant in San Bernardino, California . They wanted this building to have an entirely new design which would achieve two goals: even greater efficiency, and an eye - catching appearance . They interviewed at least four architects altogether, finally choosing Stanley Clark Meston, an architect practicing in nearby Fontana, in late 1952 . The arches had a direct bearing on the interviewing process and their choice of Meston: the first architect they interviewed objected to the arches the brothers wanted; a second wanted to change the arches; a third, prominent Los Angeles architect Douglas Honnold, said that if the brothers were going to tell him what to do they would be better off doing it themselves . </P> <P> Along with their practical knowledge, the brothers brought Meston a rough sketch of two half - circle arches drawn by Richard . The idea of an arch had struck Richard as a memorable shape to make their stand more visible . After considering one arch parallel to the front of the building, he had sketched two half - circles on either side of the stand . Meston, together with his assistant Charles Fish, responded with a design which included two 25 - foot (7.6 m) yellow sheet - metal arches trimmed in neon, called "golden arches" even at the design stage . His design also included a third, smaller arch sign at the roadside with a pudgy character in a chef's hat, known as Speedee, striding across the top, trimmed in animated neon . </P>

Where did the mcdonald's golden arches come from