Remember when it was common to see advertisements painted skillfully on the sides of brick buildings? Many of the advertising signs that once appeared bright and lined our streets have faded away or been torn down. A few, however, remain legible, and some even retain their original colors. Everything from tobacco to soda to insurance could be advertised on the side of a building. These hand-painted relics took a lot of skill and remain like works of art, even in faded states. A whole culture has now sprung up of people who track and photograph these gems of early 20th century advertising. As old buildings are torn down, in some cases signs that were previously hidden are revealed, much to the delight of ghost sign hunters. Whether you love the typography or if you just enjoy remembering a time when these ads were freshly painted, take a peek at some of the most hauntingly appealing ghost signs from around the country.

Ford City ghost sign. Via/ Flickr

Grants Pass, OR. Submitted by Margot Foley

Butte, MT, ghost sign. Via/ Flickr

 

Do you remember Uneeda Biscuits?

Lewiston, ME, ghost sign. Via/ Flickr

Falstaff Beer ghost sign. Via/ Flickr

 

“Ask Dad, he knows.” Such beautiful colors on this ad.

Butte, MT, ghost sign. Via/ Flickr

 

Occasionally, signs were painted on buildings to persuade voters or union workers.

Portland, OR, ghost sign. Via/ Flickr

 

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So many brands that have become a part of our everyday lives go that way because we became familiar with them from the ads painted on buildings. And, they lend a certain comfort despite their faded glory. But, we love to see the ads for businesses and products that no longer exist. It’s almost like pulling a business card from out of a time machine. This Budweiser sign makes us think of small town bars and grocery stores on a hot afternoon.

Budweiser ghost sign. Via/ Flickr

Aspen, CO, ghost sign. Via/ Flickr

New York, NY ghost sign. Via/ Flickr

 

This bread-shaped cafe sign is so charming.

Butte, MT, ghost sign. Via/ Flickr

Chicago, IL, ghost sign. Via/ Flickr

 

It’s so neat to see the advertisements painted over each other, still clinging to the bricks.

Seattle, WA, ghost sign. Via/ Flickr

Dubuque, IA, ghost sign. Via/ Wiki Commons

 

 

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There are many ghost signs that have been created from scratch or old signs that have been restored, but ghost sign hunters prefer the original un-retouched signs. It’s hard to fault the re-creators for wanting to keep the designs alive for another 50 years or more! It’s easy to fall in love with some of these gorgeous graphics and logos. They remind us of small town life and a slower pace of living.

This Georgetown, KY, ghost sign may have been re-touched. Via/ Flickr

Coca Cola ghost sign. Via/ Flickr

Tulsa, OK, ghost sign. Via/ Flickr

 

They surely did fit a lot of ideas onto this space. Visit the dentist and the hardware store in one trip!

Tobacco and dentist ghost sign. Via/ Flickr

Johnstown, PA, ghost sign. Via/ Flickr

 

This is almost like a collage. It’s so neat to see the different ads placements over time on this building.

Fort Dodge, IA, ghost sign. Via/ Wiki Commons

Philadelphia, PA, ghost sign. Via/ Flickr

 

This sign is, amazingly, still legible almost one hundred years after it was painted!

Vote Against Prohibition ghost sign, Baltimore, MD. Via/ Flickr

 

The large scale designs for cafes, soda brands, and even for the unions, remind us so much of the way things used to be. There was a time when going to the store down on main street, you would pass several of these ads, all bright and cheery. It’s wonderful that there are people working to document and in some cases preserve these old gems. These old signs are a part of how we grew up and we hope they don’t fade away too quickly.

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