Richmond and Wayne County have most definitely mastered the art of large-scale murals.
“For a county of approximately 70,000 citizens, we boast more than 100 murals,” says Nancy Sartain, Leisure Marketing Director for the Richmond-Wayne County Convention & Tourism Bureau. “The number of murals for a county of our population size is unusual.”
History buffs can still view the very first local installation painted by Charles Newcomb in 1913 on the second floor of the Hagerstown Museum and Arts Place (a former Odd Fellows Hall) at 96 ½ E. Main St.
“Most murals tell a story, which we share in our Murals Trail brochure,” Sartain mentions. “While many communities list mural locations, they often neglect to share the stories behind them.”
And Wayne County’s certainly got plenty of tales to tell, from its Gennett Records heritage as an early jazz/blues/gospel recording capital and its Underground Railroad lore to Model Ts and military history, all commemorated through murals that can now be seen across Richmond, Centerville, Cambridge City and Hagerstown.
This summer, the Wayne County Mural Program Competition is adding 11 new works to the 90+ piece collection for the viewing pleasure of visitors and residents. The latest installations started in July and are scheduled to wrap up by the end of August 2024. Managed by artist Pamela Bliss, the competition is funded through the Wayne County’s Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP), the Wayne County Foundation and the Wayne County Convention & Tourism Bureau, Inc.
In addition, the Richmond Art Museum (RAM) has recently added four new WPA-style murals of its own to McGuire Hall on the Richmond High School campus, all created by alumnus Amy Rheinhardt Jackson.
Produced by an international roster of creative artists and free to appreciate, Wayne County’s vibrant murals collection covers walls, alleys and other open-to-the-public spaces. For a complete list of installations with descriptions and locations, pick up a Murals Trail brochure at the Old National Road Welcome Center in Richmond. For more information, go to visitrichmond.org.
