Ghost Signs
Ranked #3,623 in Arts & Design, #54,015 overall
Ghost Signs Across the United States
Ghost signs are those old painted signs on the sides of brick buildings that are faded and sometimes hard to see. These nostalgic old signs are now just a ghost of their previous life. These old advertising signs are also sometimes called "wall dogs." Unlike billboards or standalone signs, these signs were painted directly onto the buildings.
Ghost signs can take up part or all of the side of a building and were usually advertising signs for a product or a business when they were originally painted on the building. Most ghost signs are found on brick buildings.
These signs are recognized today for their artistic significance and beauty. Many people work to preserve these ghost signs on buildings to keep part of a bygone era alive.
Image Source: Ghost sign, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Source: Bill Whittaker, Apr 2008
Ghost signs can take up part or all of the side of a building and were usually advertising signs for a product or a business when they were originally painted on the building. Most ghost signs are found on brick buildings.
These signs are recognized today for their artistic significance and beauty. Many people work to preserve these ghost signs on buildings to keep part of a bygone era alive.
Image Source: Ghost sign, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Source: Bill Whittaker, Apr 2008
Table of Contents
- My Introduction to Ghost Signs
- Ghost Signs -- One of the 100 Community Favorites
- Squidoo Writers Share Ghost Sign Photos
- Hotel Sign When New
- Books about Ghost Signs
- Ghost Signs in Maryland and Beyond
- Brick Building with Ghost Sign
- Layered Ghost Sign by Tom Bland
- Advertising Signs May Be Fading Away
- Ghost Signs
- More Photos and Information About Ghost Signs
- View of Marshall Street, City's Oldest Brick Building
- Ghost Signs in Rural Missouri
- Decals of Ghost Signs
- Faded Ad Signs and Ghost Signs on eBay
- Not a Ghost Sign
- Ghost Signs in Zanesville, Ohio
- Ghost Sign in Homer, NY
- Sunkist Ghost Sign and Elevator Ghost Sign, Arizona
- A Different Kind of Ghost Sign
- Bookmark and Share Ghost Signs
- Have you ever seen ghost signs on buildings? Where? When? Did you get a photograph?
- Squid Angel Blessings for Ghost Signs
- My Lenses
My Introduction to Ghost Signs
When I lived in Springfield, Illinois, I found out about the walking tours of architecture around town. An architecture designer organized and moderated these walking tours. It was interesting to see the buildings I drove by every day through the eyes of an architect.Each year, Downtown Springfield sponsored a free architectural walking tour that was held once a month from May to October. We met at a designated spot and started from there. We walked several blocks during each tour looking at architecture from as early as the late-1800s and as recent as the 1950s.
On each tour, if a building we passed on our scheduled tour had an old painted advertising sign on the brick facade, the architect stopped and pointed it out. This is where I first heard the term "ghost signs." I'd seen these signs but didn't know what they were called.
Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood
Ghost Signs -- One of the 100 Community Favorites
On December 30, 2011, Squidoo announced the Community Favorite Lenses of 2011. Ghost Signs made the list! I'm honored!
And my Ghost Signs article was voted one of the top 11 lenses on Squidoo for 2011. WOW! Thanks to those who voted for it. I'm truly honored.
And my Ghost Signs article was voted one of the top 11 lenses on Squidoo for 2011. WOW! Thanks to those who voted for it. I'm truly honored.
- Squidoo Community Favorite Lenses of 2011
- This Ghost Signs lens made the list of the top 100 lenses on Squidoo for 2011.
Squidoo Writers Share Ghost Sign Photos
Thanks Lori, Pam, Max, and Chazz for sharing your photographs of ghost signs in Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, and New York with me. I've added their ghost sign photos to this article, and they have really helped show some great faded advertising signs from the past.Thank you again!
And if anyone wants to share their personal ghost signs photos, please contact me. I'd love to add more of them to this article.
Hotel Sign When New
(in the background, before it faded and became a ghost sign)
Books about Ghost Signs
Ghost Signs in Maryland and Beyond
Thanks, Lori!
Ghost sign in Frederick, Maryland. Photo Credit: Lori Burdoo
Visit her Squidoo profile: http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/gottaloveit
Layered Ghost Sign by Tom Bland
for sale at Etsy.com
TYPO
Stoke Newington, London, UK.
Photograph by Tom Bland.
My 'Sign Of The Times' project documents striking ghost signs wherever I can find them, and is an ode to the more traditional methods of advertising before the arrival of the digital screen and revolving billboard: graphic design, typography, craftsmanship and paint.
Sign of the Times
Advertising Signs May Be Fading Away
but you can learn more about them
Often ghost signs are discovered when one building next to another building is torn down. The outside walls of the two buildings were so close together that the old faded art of the ghost sign was preserved from the weather and elements.Ghost signs were originally hand painted onto sides of brick buildings advertising stores like a drug store or a clothing store. Sometimes the advertising was for a product like tobacco or laundry soap or quaint products like liniment.
Ghost signs "are known as 'ghost signs,' so called because many have faded beyond recognition from decades of exposure to the elements," according to the mtstandard.com.
Most municipalities do not consider ghost signs to be of historical significance, therefore, these relics are not able to be preserved unless the owner takes on the job.
Ghost sign shown here on a building in Springfield, Illinois.
Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood
Ghost Signs
Springfield, Illinois
Ghost sign "Hotel" on brick building in Springfield, IL.
More Photos and Information About Ghost Signs
- Ghost Signs in Fort Collins
- Photos of Ghost Signs on Flickr. These signs are in Fort Collins, Colorado. I think I'm partial to the Nedley Hotel ghost sign!
- Ghost Signs - Brick Walls Signs
- Ghost Signs - Brick Walls Signs from "anywhere." I really like the Belmont Cafe ghost sign.
- Ghost Signs
- There are so many things to look for when driving along the old highways and through the older parts of town. A new interest of mine is spotting the fading, peeling advertising signs on walls that are sometimes called "ghost signs". The painted images can indeed be "ghostly" when you try to decipher the original words and images.
- Ghostsigns
- This is the home of the Ghostsigns Project, a collaborative national effort to photograph, research and archive the remaining examples of hand painted wall advertising in the UK and Ireland. Here is a little bit of background and, if you find it interesting, get in touch. Photographers and researchers wishing to get involved, please click here.
- Philadelphia Ghost Sign Project: Forthcoming Philadelphia Ghost Sign book
- Philadelphia Ghost Signs.
Ghost Signs in Rural Missouri
Thank you, Veryirie!
Veryirie sent me this ghost sign in her hometown in Missouri.
Visit her Squidoo profile: http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/veryirie
Decals of Ghost Signs
for trains
Add character and an authentic feel to the buildings in your train set with these decals of ghost signs. They come in several sizes including N scale, O scale, and HO scale as well as customizable sizes to suit your specific needs.
Faded Ad Signs and Ghost Signs on eBay
Ghost Signs in Zanesville, Ohio
Thanks, MaxReily!
Fellow Squidoo writer sent me these photos of a ghost sign in Zanesville, Ohio. Thanks, Max! Photo credit on these four photos: MaxReily Please visit Max's Squidoo page: http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/MaxReily
Ghost Sign in Homer, NY
Thanks, Chazz!
Ghost sign in Homer, New York.
Sunkist Ghost Sign and Elevator Ghost Sign, Arizona
I finally found some Arizona ghost signs!
Sunkist Mesa Citrus Growers ghost sign in Mesa, Arizona. Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood
A Different Kind of Ghost Sign
Have you ever seen ghost signs on buildings? Where? When? Did you get a photograph?
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cynthia-ann-leighton Apr 14, 2012 @ 12:03 am | delete
- Yes! Portland Oregon and surrounding area. Quite a few! Over the years... nope! Did not occur to me to get pictures.
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gottaloveit
Apr 1, 2012 @ 3:03 pm | delete
- I love that you've opened my world up to looking for these signs. I'm always on the lookout for them and now even John takes pics of them for me (you). Love this lens. Keep it going and blessed!
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Elric22
Feb 23, 2012 @ 2:29 pm | delete
- I live in NYC and the ghost signs get more attention from me than the "live" ones do!
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RenaissanceWoman2010
Feb 10, 2012 @ 9:33 pm | delete
- I love the vintage look of these ghost signs. I'll have to see if I can find some in any of the Colorado towns I visit. Thank you for introducing me to the term for these old advertisements. Always great to be exposed to new concepts. Congrats on your recognition as one of the top community lenses. What a special honor. I am delighted for you.
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scarlettohairy Feb 11, 2012 @ 1:25 am | delete
- I would love to add some Colorado ghost signs if you ever take any photos and would like to share! I used to live in Colorado and don't remember seeing a lot of them though I do remember some on South Broadway in Denver.
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Inkhand
Jan 30, 2012 @ 7:02 am | delete
- I find the narrow and covered windows of these old buildings very ghostly, together with their fading signs, it feels kinda of creepy.
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jeremykim2011
Jan 27, 2012 @ 12:47 am | delete
- Now I have an inspiration for my next lens! Thanks!
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Steve_Kaye
Jan 22, 2012 @ 12:27 am | delete
- I'm sure that I have, and now that I've read this lens, I'll be looking for them. Thank you for this fun lens.
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sheezie77
Jan 17, 2012 @ 5:31 pm | delete
- interesting reading thank you for posting!
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MariePalmer
Jan 14, 2012 @ 10:38 am | delete
- I have one I would like to share but I'll have to get the photographers permission, which I think will be fine.
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- I'd love to show it here if you can share it!
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SecondHandJoe
Jan 13, 2012 @ 6:38 pm | delete
- We have a huge one here on the east end of Long Island that says, "Woolrich" on a big abandoned building. Looks creepy-- like the backdrop from an old horror movie! Very interesting lens! I 'liked' it very much!
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zap1994
Jan 13, 2012 @ 11:30 am | delete
- I have seen them many times but didn't know that they were called ghost signs
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SPhilbrick Jan 12, 2012 @ 3:50 pm | delete
- Maine is loaded with these signs. I'll keep my camera handy and photograph some when I can for you to post. Very interesting topic!
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- I'd love to add some Maine ghost signs, Shirley!
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Squid Angel Blessings for Ghost Signs
Thank you!
My Lenses
by scarlettohairy
I'm a freelance writer and copy editor. I write articles at Squidoo on a variety of topics, which is handy since I have a variety of interests!
I h...
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