The Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition is proud to announce that the City of Sterling, IL, received the 34th mural in their series of Interpretive Murals. The latest mural was installed Thursday, October 10, 2013, on the Grummert’s Hardware building located at 424 Locust Street, Sterling. This collection of large-scale works of public art can be found along the 179-mile Illinois Byway corridor, in over two dozen communities.
This mural is distinctive. It is the only one in the series to be made up of five smaller murals grouped together, forming a collection of early Lincoln Highway era advertisements for the NBC National Radio program, The Lincoln Highway Radio Show. This popular radio drama ran from 1940 to 1942, on 80 stations, using the famed highway as the setting for thrilling tales of life along the coast-to-coast route. Shinola Shoe Polish sponsored the weekly, featuring many Hollywood celebrities of that time period as guest stars.
Visitors to the Sterling display will take a “step back in time” as they enjoy the murals. Each one is expertly painted from authentic vintage posters promoting the historic Lincoln Highway radio show.
As the designated Scenic Byway management agency overseeing the Lincoln Highway National Scenic Byway, the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition (ILHC) continually seeks ways to recognize the significance of the highway and make the historic stories come to life for visitors.
After receiving a National Scenic Byway Grant from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and an Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism, Attraction Development (TAP) Grant, ILHC has worked with the artist, Jay Allen owner of ShawCraft Sign Company, to create the interpretive mural series. The murals are valued at $10,000 each. Every mural is a hand-painted, unique work of art. Upon completion, the series will be one of the largest works of public art in the Country.
The Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition’s multi-site mural project showcases the history of the early highway, bringing the intriguing stories into people’s lives, so they can recognize its impact on American travel and the communities. The creation process is truly a mutual effort of local communities and historians, along with a gifted artist and the ILHC, producing the murals in such a way as to draw the visitor in and share in the Lincoln Highway’s wonderful heritage.
For the next component of the project, ILHC plans to produce a comprehensive piece that will individually highlight each mural with professional photos, detailed mural descriptions, and a location map.
For more information on the Illinois Lincoln Highway, places to see and things to do, and to download an Illinois Lincoln Highway Visitor Guide, visit drivelincolnhighway.com.