Ghost signs are hand-painted, outdoor promotional materials preserved on the sides of buildings. Also called fading ads or brick ads, they were prevalent from the 1890s through to the 1960s.

As outdoor advertising mediums evolved, hand-painted signs fell out of fashion and were replaced by cheaper and faster methods like billboards and vinyl banners.

This archive is a celebration of Winnipeg’s fading ads, their history and the companies that called this city home. New signs are added to the collection each week. So explore the collection, learn more about the project or attend a tour and hear the history in person. An amazing history is right under your nose. You just have to look up to see it.