Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, thousands of businesses (both small and large) advertised their wares through creative and elaborate signs painted on the sides of buildings.

And New York had some of the most interesting. Walter Grutchfield has documented some of the most interesting on his site, 14th to 42nd. Obviously it would be nearly impossible to document all of them, so he has elected to sample only a few of the many that are (or were) present in the area from 14th to 42nd Streets in Manhattan.

Visitors may browse an interactive map of the area, by the date of sign construction, or by business name. For each entry, a photograph of the sign is available, along with a brief sketch of the business and its history.

Don't miss the old sign for the Hotel Irving for Women and the Handin & Drapkin Furs sign on East 20th Street.