Sign Station founder, Barbara Schilling
began making signs while in grade school in Brooklyn Center, MN. Felt and burlap church banners were just the beginning. She studied calligraphy, and went on to high school already deeply in love with "art with a message". Barbara trained in the art of sign painting at Detroit Lakes (MN) Technical Institute. She worked in several sign shops during the 1970's, honing her design and customer skills, and taking additional classes at North Hennepin Community College and Hennepin Technical Center to advance her general knowledge of marketing. Maris and Barbara moved to Andover, MN in 1980, and began making signs from the home based studio that year. The home based studio grew, finally taking over the garage and barn, and Sign Station was moved to the first commercial location on 7th Avenue in Anoka in 2004. In November 2006 Sign Station moved again, to the present location at 560 W. Main St. in Anoka, MN.