Philadelphia's faded ads are history in plain sight. They are tangible remnants of changing neighborhoods and industries, and Fading Ads of Philadelphia presents a new way to view these forgotten urban stories. Join author and photographer Lawrence O'Toole as he explores these physical touchstones of the city's history--a sign for a bygone family business seen only from the elevated train tracks, the Gretz smokestack advertising the now defunct Kensington brewery and an ad for the Midtown Theater that is slowly reappearing from behind layers of whitewash. O'Toole re-creates this lost urban landscape as he hunts signs from Center City to the River Wards and from South Philadelphia to West Philadelphia. Through this stunningly illustrated book, urbanites will again view these too often overlooked ads--and their stories--with fresh eyes.

New York City is eternally evolving. From its iconic skyline to its side alleys, the new is perpetually being built on the debris of the past. But a movement to preserve the citys vanishing landscapes has emerged. For nearly twenty years, Frank Jump has been documenting the fading ads that are visible, but less often seen, all over New York. Disappearing from the sides of buildings or hidden by new construction, these signs are remnants of lost eras of New Yorks life. They weave together the citys unique history, culture, environment and society and tell the stories of the businesses, places and people whose lives transpired among them the story of New York itself. This photo-documentary is also a study of time and space, of mortality and living, as Jumps campaign to capture the ads mirrors his own struggle with HIV. Experience the ads shot with vintage Kodachrome film and the meaning they carry through acclaimed photographer and urban documentarian Frank Jumps lens.

This is the first scholarly collection to examine the social and cultural aspects on the worldwide interest in the faded remains of advertising signage (popularly known as ‘ghost signs’). Contributors to this volume examine the complex relationships between the signs and those who commissioned them, painted them, viewed them and view them today. Topics covered include cultural memory, urban change, modernity and belonging, local history and place-making, the crowd-sourced use of online mobile and social media to document and share digital artefacts, ‘retro’ design and the resurgence in interest in the handmade. The book is international and interdisciplinary, combining academic analysis and critical input from practitioners and researchers in areas such as cultural studies, destination marketing, heritage advertising, design, social history and commercial archaeology.

Before the billboard, radio or television commercial, there was the painted ad. Today, these aging ads capture the imagination, harkening back to a bygone era. Vanishing paint on brick walls speaks to a time when commerce was much simpler and much more direct. Few cities in America have produced as many intriguing fading ads as St. Louis. Fewer still are home to such an expert on the subject as author Wm. Stage. For decades, Stage has studied and researched the lost art form of the painted ad, carefully tracking the history of this hands-on approach to advertising from its lustrous heyday to its disappearing present. Join Stage on a tour through St. Louis's fading ads hidden in plain sight.

Explore the most interesting, scenic, and historic places in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, via 30 self-guided walking tours. From Broad Street to Independence National Park, from Manayunk to the Delaware River, the City of Brotherly Love is one of the world’s most fascinating places to explore. Grab your walking shoes, and become an urban adventurer. Local author Natalie Pompilio guides you through 30 unique walking tours in this comprehensive book. Walking Philadelphia makes you feel like you’re being led by your closest friend as you soak up the architecture, trivia, and more. The tours include important historic facts, as well as Natalie’s behind-the-scenes stories and tidbits. Plus, Tricia Pompilio’s photography brings these walking tours to life. Find vintage boutiques and high-end shopping destinations. Try restaurants that showcase famed fare (like cheesesteaks, soft pretzels, and beer that make Philadelphia a foodies’ paradise). Discover Philadelphia’s many firsts: the first zoo, first library system, and first hospital—plus dozens of historic sites that you learned about in school. Explore a Museum District that’s second to none, an all-encompassing park system, and much more. Book Features 30 self-guided tours through the City of Brotherly Love America’s Most Historic Square Mile, one of the country’s liveliest and most lived-in urban centers Unique and surprising stories about people, places, and things Whether you’re looking for the Mural Mile in Center City or the historically modern charm of Society Hill, Walking Philadelphia will get you there. Find a route that appeals to you, and walk Philly!

On brick buildings throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul, overlooked, fleeting symbols chronicle the cities' past. Champion, John Deere, and International Harvester still tout their agricultural equipment, and Gold Medal and Pillsbury Flour remind everyone where these now global companies began. Weathered proclamations from Grain Belt, Jacob Schmidt, and Gluek's Beer offer a glimpse into early local brewing. Ads from Schmitt Music and Dahl Violin Shop recall a thriving art scene. Local hardware stores like Welna Ace Hardware and grocery stores like J.H. Allen & Co Grocers and Schoen's Home Grocery hawk long-gone wares through elegant painted announcements. Join photographer and author Jay Grammond for a fascinating journey through Twin Cities history.