Painted Advertising Signs aka “Ghost Signs”

Downtown San Marcos

Between the 1880s-1950s, advertisements were commonly painted on the sides and corners of downtown commercial buildings throughout the country. “Ghost signs” are the apparitions of these old wall signs, heralding long-forgotten products or businesses. These signs were commissioned by private companies and hand painted by groups of sign painters known as “wall dogs”. These tradesmen represented a variety of skills, including draftsmen, chemists, artists, and even acrobats. In the 1950s, the sign painting industry began to decline due to the advent of the Interstate Highway System, and the growing availability and affordability of billboards.

If a ghost sign is not maintained or restored it will disappear over time, but ghost sign restoration is a topic that causes much debate. Repainting a historic sign can destroy the patina that is associated with its authenticity. However, the case has been made that repainting ghost signs can support downtown revitalization efforts, such as Main Street programs, supporting heritage tourism and reinforcing a unique sense of place that is rooted in the community’s history.

Preservation Texas will work with Main Street communities, art conservators, and other key stakeholders to share best practices, identify and catalog surviving ghost signs, and start a dialogue about how they might be preserved and interpreted.