Modesto Arch, Street arch in downtown Modesto, California, United States

The Modesto Arch is a centennial slogan arch built in 1912, standing at the intersection of 9th and I Streets in Modesto, California. It bears the city motto "Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health", illuminated by 696 incandescent lightbulbs. Two Mediterranean cypress trees stand behind its columns.

The structure was built in 1912 as a welcoming gateway for city visitors and was funded through public support. The motto displayed came from a community competition held the previous year that drew widespread participation from residents.

The motto 'Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health' was not the contest winner: the first-place entry, 'Nobody's Got Modesto's Goat', was rejected and the second-place slogan was used instead. The arch also appears on Modesto's city flag, adopted in 1988, and in the video game American Truck Simulator.

The structure sits at the corner of 9th and I Street where it is easy to reach and immediately visible. The location provides good orientation for anyone exploring downtown, as the arch serves as a clear directional marker.

The motto contest's first-place entry, 'Nobody's Got Modesto's Goat', was rejected, so the second-place slogan 'Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health' was used instead. The arch also appears on Modesto's city flag, adopted in 1988, and in the video game American Truck Simulator.