Someone painted over historical signatures on a wall!

A new (and foolish) owner of an historical country store in Alaska painted over several walls with decades of signatures from mountain climbers. Is there any way to remove the paint without removing the signatures?? Please say yes!
Sorry, I have no pictures.
  3 answers
  • Darla Darla on May 04, 2015
    You can try alcohol, which softens acrylic paint. I don't know if it would remove the signatures; depends on what kind of pen and what kind of paint was on the old wall.
  • Lurella Lurella on May 04, 2015
    Check with museums and art galleries - they may have some good suggestions.
  • Maureen Millgard Maureen Millgard on May 08, 2015
    I agree with Lurella's comment. If it is that important to save.....take a few minutes to research with artists or curates of an art museum. Good luck on the removal.