By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
As cities and states across the country celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, Ohio claims to have a commemoration that “is distinctly Ohio’s.”
For America 250, Ohio created Murals Across Ohio.
“The initiative grew out of a simple but powerful idea: to mark America’s 250th anniversary not just with reflection, but with visible, lasting expressions of creativity in communities across the state,” Donna Collins, executive director of the Ohio Arts Council, said in an email.
“Public art—especially murals—has a unique ability to tell stories where people already gather, work, and live,” she added. ”We saw an opportunity to create something that feels both locally rooted and statewide in scope—celebrating Ohio’s people, places, and perspectives in a way that is accessible to everyone.”
As people and families hit the road this summer, whether staying in state or passing through to other destinations, there are hundreds of opportunities to see some of the magnificent Murals Across Ohio in all corners of the state.
Wood County is fortunate to have six murals that are currently identified on the Murals Across Ohio map, searchable by zip code or city and available at https://america250-ohio.org/murals-across-ohio/.
Wood County murals include two in Bowling Green—Downtown BG at 181 S. Main St, and at the Wood County Museum, 13660 County Home Rd., off of Route 6; Pemberville on the grain elevator at Bierley Ave and E. Front Street; Bradner, on a barn at 13266 Pemberville Road and visible from Route 6; Grand Rapids at 24195 Front St., and Fostoria at 301 S. Main St., which technically is not in the Wood County section of Fostoria, but in the Seneca County portion.
According to Collins, the murals were selected through a thoughtful process that prioritized geographic diversity, community readiness, and the strength of the artistic vision.
“We wanted to ensure that projects reflected the richness of Ohio’s communities—urban, rural, and everything in between—while also supporting artists who could create meaningful, high-quality work in public spaces,” she explained.
Though Bowling Green has become somewhat of a mural mecca, The Great Black Swamp mural by Adrian Tio is one of the oldest murals in the city. According to the Murals Across Ohio website, the mural is “an artistic representation of the land that was once an expansive swamp throughout northwest Ohio.” Tio created the original artwork with creative contributions from Bowling Green High School students. The artwork was applied as a mural to the brick surface by Kevin Kennair and Bowling Green State University art students in the summer of 1994. Arts Allied, the Bowling Green Community Arts Network, Downtown Business Association and the Wood County Park District supported the project.
Nature in Wood County was the first mural at the Wood County Museum at 13660 County Home Road, east of the city and accessible (but not visible) from Route 6. Toledo artist Chris “Chilly” Rodriguez used his vibrant color palette to paint the nature-inspired mural on the Gas Plant building on the museum’s grounds, according to Marissa Muniz Kuhloff, marketing coordinator at the museum.
The museum reached out to Rodriguez in 2021, “knowing it would likely be a long process to create a mural on the corrugated metal side of the building that was the Gas Plant,” she said.
First, the (museum) board OK’d to paint the mural, but not on the original part of the building in order to preserve the historic designation of the structure.
“We chose the mural to be near the herb garden, and we wanted it to be nature-related featuring native plants, birds and plants.
“We knew there was greater benefit,” Kuhloff said about submitting the mural to the Murals Across Ohio project. “Murals have a tourist aspect and attract a different audience that seeks out these kinds of attractions.”
Once people see the mural, the feedback has been positive. Many people have visited not only to take photos of the mural, but to take photos of themselves, family members and friends standing by the artwork.
“During the birthday party for Peaches, our resident cat, there were so many people who took pictures at the mural. We’ve even had a young woman have her picture taken for her 15th birthday quinceañera,” she said.
The Pemberville Mural on the Countyline Co-op grain elevator at the corner of Bierly Avenue and East Front St. (State Route 105) was created by artist and muralist Dean Davis, whose work is seen on buildings and structures throughout the region. The idea was the brainchild of Pemberville resident Robert Reiter, and with the help of her friend Pat Rollins, former Mayor Carol Bailey, and the elevator co-op board, the town raised $32,000 in private donations for the mural. The 65 x 55-foot mural displays the heart and soul of the community—a farming community on the banks of a fork in the Portage River. Featured in the mural are a soaring eagle—a nod to the multiple eagles’ nests in the area, a barn and cattle, native wildflowers and an American flag. According to the Ohio Art Council’s website, the Pemberville mural is unique in that although it is painted on two adjoining sides of the feed mill, it appears as one continuous picture.
Air, Sea & Land, Thank you to our Military, another Dean Davis masterpiece, is at 13622 Pemberville Road. Visible from Route 6, the mural celebrates “the sheer scale of American defense,” according to the Murals Across Ohio website. Pictured are jets, submarines, aircraft carriers and an individual soldier. “It is a powerful homage to the technology and person-power that safeguard the nation.”
In Grand Rapids, Ohio, the mural titled Welcome to Grand Rapids, touts the quaint community as “Home of the Applebutter Fest,” a huge fall celebration that welcomes tens of thousands to the community on the third Sunday of October. Included in the mural, painted by Dave Rickerd and commissioned by the very active and forward-thinking Grand Rapids Arts Council, are the bridge that crosses the Maumee River at Grand Rapids and five stamps that represent the arts and wildlife in the area. The mural is on the west side of the downtown building at 24195 Front St., facing the Huntington Bank Building.
The Guardian of the Seasons by Derek Brennan is in Fostoria at 301 S. Main St. The information explains the artwork, funded through the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation and commissioned by the Community Improvement Corporation of Fostoria. “Many times, we might experience all four seasons in a week,” as depicted in a scene that shows a tree throughout the seasons, flowers and wildlife in a rural area.
Looking to stay in Bowling Green, the Bowling Green Arts Council has created a self-guided tour of public art in Bowling Green, which includes 18 murals and two additional pieces of public art. The link to the map and artwork details can be found at https://viewer.mapme.com/bg-public-art. Read a story about the project here.
Additional nearby Murals Across Ohio murals include:
Whitehouse: Homer Noble Farm Barn Mural, another mural by Dean Davis, at 6095 Weckerly Road. The mural pays tribute to the nation’s history and to Delp’s great-uncle Homer Noble, a lifelong farmer. This project is a powerful symbol of patriotism and local pride.
Gibsonburg: The Gibsonburg Way by Scott Hagen at 214 W. Madison St. The mural, on the side of the Gibsonburg Police Department, incorporates the town motto.
Napoleon: Welcome to Historic Napoleon, also by Dave Rickerd, is at 114 W Clinton St. This mural offers a peek down memory lane, featuring an 1800’s view of the town.
Deshler: Deshler Crossroads of the B&O, by Dave Rickerd, is located at 101 E. Main St. #1. Similar to the Grand Rapids mural, Deshler’s artwork shows a giant postcard with businesses from the past and present, along with a steam locomotive and modern-day train
Toledo has many notable murals including: The Glass City River Wall by Gabe Gault at 1308 Miami St., and five more Dean Davis creations: Art Tatum at 413 Madison Ave., The Toledo Mural: Frogtown Toledo at the corner of Madison and N. St. Clair; Point of Return at 840 Water Street; and Toledo Vibrant Energy at Madison and St. Clair streets.
“The Murals Across Ohio initiative sits squarely within the Ohio Arts Council’s mission to foster and encourage the development of the arts and to make the arts accessible to all Ohioans. Murals are one of the most publicly available forms of art—the murals meet people where they are, without barriers,” Collins said.
Additionally, the project supports the creativity and talents of artists, strengthens community identity, and contributes to local vitality. “It’s a strong example of how public investment (local and state investments) in the arts delivers real, visible impact—culturally, socially, and economically—across the state,” she said.
Because the initiative continues through America 250-Ohio, there is potential to expand and include more communities. “The goal is to build momentum over time, not just complete a fixed number of projects,” Collins said. “The Ohio Arts Council hopes to keep the initiative growing well-beyond the end of 2026.”
