Comparison of the previous and new versions of the North Dakota highway route maker
Until 2016 North Dakota highway signage had an "N" and a "D" in the top corners and a Native American profile, based on Lakota policeman Marcellus Red Tomahawk;[1][2] since 2016 the marker has had "North Dakota" on a black background, the state in outline, and the highway number within the state outline. This transition to new signs is a slow process that will take years before the old signs are completely out of commission. The state will be replacing the old signs as needed, so both versions can currently be seen while driving on North Dakota roads.[3]
According to NDDOT, this change was made for a number of reasons. These include the department's centennial celebration, to demonstrate the significant spending to improve North Dakota roads in the past few years, and to keep uniformity across the United States, especially with online mapping providers which render individual state shields. According to an NDDOT representative, "a number of different states use their state outline or symbol on the highway signs."[4] Some also cited the North Dakota Fighting Sioux controversy as part of the reason why the state decided to change the shields, to avoid any further offense.[4]
originally St. Anthony to Selfridge; swapped with ND 6 by 1927; extended on current route (replacing part of ND 7) and section south of ND 21 renumbered ND 24 by 1931; section south of ND 6 became an extension of ND 24 by 1939, shortening route to current routing
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