Paducah Ghost Signs

So at Innovations Branding House, we love all things marketing. This is especially true for the vintage painted ads (more commonly known as ghost signs) found fading on some of our historic downtown buildings. For some time, we at the office have talked about these signs, and it was one afternoon conversation that led to our digital ghost sign restoration project.

As we began posting our recreations to social media, people began to ask where these signs were, and if there were more. Since we had compiled a pretty good list, we decided to make a map so you can easily locate all of these great pieces of art.

Click here for a printable map of downtown Paducah’s ghost sign locations.

Irvin Cobb Hotel

We’d be remiss if we didn’t take the opportunity to restore the ghost signs on our next door neighbor and Paducah icon, The Irvin Cobb Hotel. You probably know the rich history of the hotel, and its namesake, which first opened in 1929. What you might not know is that the architect, Walter W. Ahlschlager, was fairly renowned in his own right. Not only did he engineer the Irvin Cobb, but he was also the architect for the Medinah Athletic Club in Chicago and the Beacon Theatre in New York City!

Can be viewed from Broadway between 7th St. and 6th St.

Located just off Broadway on 5th St. behind the Columbia Theater

The General Electric Logo

Along with Coca-Cola, this has to be one of the most recognizable logos in American History. GE‘s logo has gone mostly unchanged for over 100 years, making the recreation of this ghost sign all the more fun from a branding perspective.

You can check this sign out for yourself on the side of the Paducah Railroad Museum right on Marine Way (2nd St.) & Washington St.!

Podolax

Viewable from N. 11th St. between Jefferson St. & Broadway

On the corner of S. 3rd St. & Kentucky Ave.

Cardui/Piano Store

This VERY recognizable building on the corner of 3rd & Kentucky Ave. was the backdrop for several different ghost signs in the past several decades and beyond. Patrick really had some fun with this one, even restoring the old L.E Girardey & Co. Piano business that once manufactured pianos right here in Paducah. As you can see, this building has quite a history. You can still make out these layers of ads if you look close enough!

Coca-Cola

If you didn’t already know, we’re all pretty big fans of old fashioned Coca-Cola here at the office. So we absolutely HAD to recreate this fantastic ghost sign located off of Broadway, tucked just behind the old Columbia Theater on 5th Street.

On the corner of S. 3rd St. & Kentucky Ave.

On the corner of S. 3rd St. & Kentucky Ave.

Bruton's Snuff

This ghost sign might not be as recognizable to some, as it isn’t located in a high traffic area. However, if you come from the river down Madison Street, you will be sure to notice this “Old Reliable” gem right before you cross St. Louis Ave!

Very Old Barton

Check out this “VERY OLD” ad on Jefferson Street! The ghost sign for the classic Kentucky Bourbon can be seen heading down Kentucky Avenue just before the 11th St. intersection.

On Jefferson St. between St. Louis Ave. & N. 11th St.

On N. 3rd St. between Broadway & Jefferson St.

Dr. Bell's Pine Tar Honey

Spread across the city of Paducah and somewhat hidden on these old building walls are some very cool ghost signs. We’ve been fangirling for some time about these historic advertisements and we have taken great joy in trying to recreate them as they would have once appeared.

Can you imagine Alben Barkley walking around at the time this was up?

Budweiser

Who among you knows the story of this building on Jefferson St.?
We came across this ghost sign just past 10th St. during one of our ghost hunting expeditions.

We assume is was previously a distribution center or warehouse for Budweiser stock, but we are unsure of when it might have operated. Do you know or remember? Drop us a line!

On Jefferson St. between St. Louis. and N 11th St.

On the corner of Jefferson St. and N. 4th St.

Rhodes-Burford Company

If you’re heading downtown along MLK you might not have even noticed this faded sign on the corner of 4th and Jefferson. However, that could just be because it’s been there for over a hundred years.

The Rhodes-Burford Company was a furniture store that dates back to the turn of the 20th Century at this exact location. While the main store and inventory was located one block up on the corner of 4th and Broadway, this location at Jefferson was one of four busy branch stores that sold furniture widely known for its “excellence and quality.”

Their reputation allowed the business to grow, adding stores throughout Western Kentucky, Southern Illinois, and Western Tennessee. And according to Paducah Memories, it has many great local memories attached to it! What are some of yours?