Late last fall, a restoration project for the historic Clabber Girl Baking Powder billboard in Terre Haute, Indiana got underway by Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Clabber Girl Corporation. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology took over ownership of the beloved state landmark as part of its purchase of more than 1,100 acres of property from the Hulman family, founders of Clabber Girl Baking Powder.

“The billboard, with its large clock on top, has been an important part of the community. People really missed it during the restoration process,” says Rose-Hulman President Robert A. Coons. “We wanted the billboard restored to its original glory.”

The Clabber Girl Baking Powder billboard had seen significant wear and tear over the years and is quite visible from the road. As part of the restoration project, trees were trimmed around the sign, its wooden frame was improved, the Clabber Girl message was made over, and the mechanics of its working clock were repaired,

Setting the restored clock will now be able to be controlled by remote control, allowing for more ease in resetting the time during the change of daylight savings time each fall and spring. 

The 44-foot-long billboard along U.S. 40 has welcomed visitors to the city for more than 80 years. It is believed to be the oldest billboard in existence in Indiana and, with its large clock, one of the first electric billboards in the country.

Clabber Girl Corporation is headquartered in downtown Terre Haute. It has produced Clabber Girl Baking Powder since 1899, making it the top-selling baking powder brand in the United States.