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Time Traveling with Pittsburgh's Ghost Signs

Posted on February 25, 2023   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Francesca Dabecco

Francesca Dabecco

Kaufmann's ghost sign in Lawrenceville. (@ghostsigngrrl)

Kaufmann's ghost sign in Lawrenceville. (@ghostsigngrrl)

This time of year, it can seem like Pittsburgh’s been stripped of every hue except gray. But if you look closely enough, you might catch a pop of color from a ghost sign. They’re the faded, old-timey advertisements painted on the sides of brick buildings. To beat the winter blues, we’re revisiting our conversation with City Cast contributor Rossilynne Skena Culgan about how to find these relics, what they teach us about Pittsburgh’s history, and what it could mean if we lose them.

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