Along some of Seattle's oldest streets, you can still see painted advertisements from decades ago on the sides of buildings — some faded nearly beyond recognition. Seattle University professor emerita Marie Wong calls them ghost signs.

Why it matters: Many of these remnants from the early- and mid-20th century are in danger of being lost, Wong tells Axios — and Seattle has no policy specifically aimed at preserving them.

Catch up quick: In 2013, Wong led a group of Seattle University students on a project to document all the ghost signs in the Chinatown-International District and Pioneer Square.

• Her group found ghost signs on more than 50 buildings across the two neighborhoods, with some buildings bearing more than one.

What they're saying: The signs speak to modern buildings' past occupants, says Lisa Howard, executive director of the Alliance for Pioneer Square.

• "It reminds people there were people here before us and there was commerce here before the commerce of today," Howard tells Axios. "It gets people to look at the past in a way that they wouldn't if they didn't have that public reminder."

Zoom in: Seattle's ghost signs advertised everything from cigars to chewing gum to clothing. On the west side of Occidental Square, you can still see "Rainier Beer" painted in block letters on a brick wall.

• Around the corner, ghost signs advertise three businesses that once operated in the same building: Buttnick Manufacturing Co., Driftwood Sportswear, and Paul Bunyon Outerwear.
• Often, you have to look up. Near the streetcar stop on Occidental Avenue and South Jackson Street, a fading advertisement for Chase & Sanborn coffee still floats overhead, clinging to the alley side of a building. Wong's students found that it dates to the 1930s.

Yes, but: Many of the painted signs are disappearing under layers of graffiti or due to years of weather exposure, Wong says.

• Even some of the signs Wong and her students documented in 2013 are no longer visible.
• One example is on the building that once housed the Republic Hotel in the Chinatown-International District.
• A ghost sign for the Silver Dragon restaurant — which once advertised dancing, chop suey and chow mein — has been completely covered by graffiti.
• "I find that so heartbreaking," Wong says.

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Downtown Seattle is drawing more visitors and shoppers as tourism season ramps up.

The big picture: Cruise ships are back, tourists are crowding the waterfront and shoppers are spending more money downtown than they were this time last year, according to the Downtown Seattle Association's latest dashboard.

By the numbers: More than 2.8 million unique visitors came downtown in April, a 5% increase from a year earlier and 104% of April 2019 levels, according to Placer.ai data used in the report.

• The central waterfront — including Overlook Walk, the aquarium and Piers 62 and 58 — logged more than 165,000 visits last month, up 8% year over year.
• Shoppers spent more than $418 million downtown during the first quarter of 2026, a 17% jump from the same period last year.
• Spending at specialty shops more than doubled year over year, the fastest-growing category.

The latest figures continue trends outlined in DSA's annual economic report earlier this year, which found downtown visits had already surpassed pre-pandemic levels.

Yes, but: Office recovery still lags with assessed values for Seattle's priciest downtown office towers plunging more than 50% since 2021, and weekday foot traffic at just 60% of 2019 levels, per DSA.

What's next: The city's busiest season is just starting, with cruise season ramping up and FIFA around the corner.

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🤔 A grassroots campaign to "save" Cal Anderson's skate area from pickleball conversion has gained traction online, though Seattle Parks says there are no plans to remove the skate park. (Capitol Hill Seattle Blog)

🚧 DIY metal barriers have been erected by some north Seattle residents to limit side-street access off Aurora Avenue after a recent string of shootings sent bullets into nearby homes. (KOMO)

🏀 The Seattle Storm picked up their second straight win Sunday in a 97-85 win over the Washington Mystics. Natisha Hiedeman tied a career high with 24 points, and rookie Awa Fam impressed in her WNBA debut. (Seattle Times)

If you can't find your way around downtown Seattle, try looking down.

What's happening: Seattle's sidewalks now have new purple wayfinding signs directing people to key attractions — but they're not meant for locals.

• They're part of the city's FIFA World Cup preparations. I spotted two around Pioneer Square on Friday, directing visitors to the stadium and ferry terminal.

Seattle is hosting six matches this summer, with the first set for June 15.

Seattle's newest celebrity cuties are finally ready for their close-up.

Why it matters: The 4-month-old sisters are Woodland Park Zoo's first lion cubs in years — and likely among this year's biggest crowd magnets.

• Kamari and Zawadi were born Jan. 14 to first-time parents Ilanga and Tandie in the zoo's African Savanna habitat.
• Kamari means "moon" in Swahili and Zawadi means "gift."
• Zoo staff say both parents have settled comfortably into their new roles, with plenty of bonding, playtime and naps.

The latest: The cubs began making appearances in the zoo's African Savanna habitat on May 18, but are not on a firm viewing schedule yet.

The bottom line: Seattle zoo-goers now have two more reasons to make a visit.