In 1901, the center of Main Street was officially designated as the state line separating Tennessee and Virginia by the United States Congress.

According to the Bristol Historical Association's booklet The Historical Bristol Sign, the Bristol Gas and Electric Company donated and erected the sign atop a hardware store in 1910 to advertise the city.

The sign originally contained the lighted slogan PUSH!

- THAT'S BRISTOL referring to the hopes of continued growth and future prosperity for the two cities.

[3] The sign is featured at the beginning of a 2016 commercial for GEICO insurance.