Those fine old “ghost signs” are disappearing by the minute

A photographer with a sign background probably sees the world differently than an average photographer. That’s especially true if the photographer likes vintage subjects like old rusting vehicles, farming equipment, and barns. Many people see signs and never really think much about how they were made nor who made them.

The old signs are disappearing fast! Some are rescued by collectors and are now valued pieces of “Americana”. Others are destroyed by the wrecking balls as the “new” replaces the “old” in the name of progress and urban renewal.

After years of exposure, often all that is left of a sign is its ghost. Others are in the process of becoming ghost signs. Either way, I hope you enjoy this selection of ghost signs from the Rocky Mountain Region—Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Colorado. I’ve included a couple of cast iron emblems in the mix, plus an embossed logo from an old tire!