Do you remember seeing those old painted ads on the sides of buildings for Coca-Cola, Grain Belt Beer, grocery stores, warehouses, etc.? Fading Ads are the old painted ads on the sides of brick buildings that once advertised a vibrant business, and now have faded to the point where only part of the sign is visible. Those overlooked, fleeting symbols seen on brick buildings throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul chronicle the Twin Cities’ past. Join presenter Jay Grammond as he takes you on a virtual walk around the Twin Cities to view this sort of “art gallery” that surrounds us and learn about the history of some of these companies that date back to the 1800s.

Jay Grammond is a professional photographer, author, and historian living in East Central Minnesota with family tree connections to Dakota County. He signed a book deal in the Summer of 2020 to create a Photography & History book about the Fading Ads, or “Ghost Signs” in Minneapolis and St. Paul.