The fading advertisements on the walls of Birmingham's buildings paint an illuminating picture of the men and women who built an industrial boomtown in the first half of the twentieth century. Advertising expert, artist and writer Charles Buchanan unravels the mysteries behind Birmingham's ghost signs to reveal glimpses of the past now hidden in plain sight. Featuring stunning color photography by Birmingham native Jonathan Purvis.
An Alabama native, Charles Buchanan is a magazine editor at a university in Birmingham. He is also an artist who creates block prints inspired by the architecture, iconography, and natural beauty of Birmingham. His work has been featured on HGTV and on Alabama's tourism web site.