Murals in Monroe County

Murals In Monroe County

Take a free mural tour in Monroe County Alabama! Unique and vibrant murals are popping up all throughout Monroe County! You can mix and match any of the locations on the Monroe County Mural Trail to best fit your location and itinerary! Did we mention it’s FREE?

While on your trip, you’ll find that there are countless opportunities to admire local art and learn about its origins. One option is to visit the Monroe County murals, which pay homage to the culture and history of the area, from honoring famous authors to depicting what life was like throughout the 1900s. Whether it was painted almost a century ago or within the last decade, each mural has a story to tell.

"Home is Where my Friend Is"

Harper Lee’s close childhood friend, Truman Capote, was also a resident and is similarly honored with a mural in town. Completed in 2018 by Johnna Bush, it depicts characters from Capote’s short story, A Christmas Memory. In the mural, characters Sook and Buddy, along with their dog Queenie, are flying kites in a field. It is located at 27 N Mt Pleasant Ave in Monroeville, across from the Monroe County Courthouse Museum.

"Harvesting"

This mural adorns the wall inside the Monroeville Post Office, which can be found at 104 N Alabama Ave in Monroeville. It was commissioned in 1939 as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal program, which sought to help unemployed artists by having them paint murals in public buildings. Local artist Arthur L. Bairnsfather won a competition to paint this mural and took home $680 for his services. The mural shows a team of three mules pulling a threshing machine across a wheat field.

"The Mob Scene"

Another mural about To Kill a Mockingbird depicts the novel’s pivotal mob scene. Located at 8 E Claiborne St in Monroeville, it displays members of the mob confronting Atticus Finch and his children beside a bustling street.

"The Mockingbird"

Arguably the most well-known citizen of Monroeville, Alabama, is Harper Lee, author of the literary classic To Kill a Mockingbird. There are several murals related to the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, with one tribute displayed on the exterior of Lee Motor Company’s building. Painted in 1998 by Steven McNider, this mural depicts a mockingbird resting on a branch with flowers in front of a cloudy blue sky. See it for yourself at 31 S Alabama Ave in Monroeville.

"Untitled"

To Kill a Mockingbird is also honored at Lyle Salter Park, where a large mural displaying a scene from the story serves as a historical marker about Monroeville. Painted by Jo Wilson in 2009, the mural coincided with the 50th anniversary of Harper Lee’s publishing of the novel. The scene shows Scout, Jem, and Dill hiding behind a tree while snooping around Boo Radley’s house. This is also located at 8 E. Claiborne St in Monroeville.

"Coca-Cola"

One of America’s most favorite beverages has deep roots in the South, as evidenced by the Coca-Cola mural on the side of the A.O. Brantley Store. Located on County Rd 5 in Burnt Corn, AL, it was painted by an unknown artist sometime around 1930. The mural displays classic prices for a glass of the soda pop back in the day – a steep five cents.

"Literary Giants"

The mural is a natural complement to the Literary Capital Sculpture Trail unveiled in 2019. The trail features 14 bronze sculptures – one for each of the 10 writers, one to represent the Pulitzer Prize won by three of the writers and a second sculpture for Lee, Capote and Tucker. Bryan said this new mural is just another reminder that anyone can do very big things, even when you come from a small town. The finished work features a bookcase honoring the works of Lee, Capote, Rheta Grimsley-Johnson, Riley Kelly, William Barret Travis, Cynthia Tucker, Hank Williams, Mark Childress, Mike Stewart and Marva Collins. The mural was completed by Grove Hill Artist Johnna Bush in 2021.