Ghost Signs of Old City

“Ghost Signs” are faded and often forgotten business and advertisement signs, usually found on the front or sides of buildings. The effects of decades of weather, neglect, and cover-up attempts have diminished their eye-catching glow, but they still provide a window into the past, revealing generations of a building’s history and uncovering fascinating stories of our city. These signs can be found all over Philadelphia, but a large concentration of them are in the Old City neighborhood.

Join Hidden City as we explore a range of ghost signs from hand-painted lettering on building facades (some even at eye level) to those embedded in the sidewalks. Businesses discussed will include nautical instruments, department stores, restaurant supply companies, tanners, printers, brush makers, and so many more!

Meet at the northeast corner of 3rd and Chestnut Streets: 243 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106. This tour requires significant walking on uneven brick and slate sidewalks of the Old City neighborhood; proper footwear is a must.

Tour guide Jordan Keiffer has been documenting Philadelphia’s ghost signs on the Instagram page @phillyghostsigns since 2019. His goal is to connect people to the forgotten stories of these faded signs through historic narratives and supplemental images. His work was featured in a special exhibition on ghost signs at the Neon Museum of Philadelphia in 2021. A native of Montgomery County, PA, Keiffer is a proud Temple University alum. He enjoys long runs and bike rides through the city that allow him to periodically check in on ghost signs.

If you are a Hidden City Member, don’t forget to use your promo code for a member discount!

Questions, concerns, conundrums? Contact Hidden City project coordinator Alyssa Shea at ashea@hiddencityphila.org.