Let’s go on a ghost tour.
My book, Fading Ads of Birmingham, reveals the fascinating stories behind many of the colorful painted "ghost signs" that inspire my art. It features nearly 70 wall signs spanning a century of Birmingham history and introduces the people who built a booming Magic City in the heart of Alabama. Featuring photos by local photographer Jonathan Purvis, the book also includes addresses for all signs—including some that have been painted over or altered since publication—to help you spot these visions of the past hiding in plain sight. (You also can locate them on my Birmingham Fading Ads map below.)
Got a question about the book or Birmingham's ghost signs? Let me know.
Where to buy it:
Alabama Booksmith • Little Professor • Birmingham Museum of Art • Vulcan Park and Museum • Arcadia/The History Press • Books-a-Million • Barnes & Noble • Amazon • Cracker Barrel
News and reviews:
Goodreads • Ghostsigns.co.uk • Birmingham News/al.com • ABC 33/40 • UAB Reporter • headsubhead.com
And here is my original Birmingham magazine article that inspired the book.