Alley Revitalization.
A Mural to Tell Our Story.
What was once a plain alley is now a downtown connection transformed. West Virginia artist Blake Wheeler has created a stunning mural telling Morgantown’s history in a way that’s never been seen before. From our industrial roots to our vibrant culture, this public art project is a permanent landmark for all to enjoy.
This mural is more than just a beautiful addition to our city; it’s a key part of our downtown revitalization efforts. Our comprehensive approach will make downtown spaces more inviting through art, lighting and landscaping. Your support helps us create a more vibrant, welcoming space that will attract visitors and strengthen our community for years to come.
Leave Your Mark on Morgantown's History
Every contribution paints our future for America’s 250th Birthday, as part of the statewide America250 mural trail across West Virginia’s 55 counties. Donate today and find your place in Morgantown’s story.
The Historic Mural Project.
This project honors Morgantown’s rich industrial roots and vibrant entertainment culture, culminating in the visual story of how Morgantown was built.
Main Street Morgantown partnered with the owner of the Historic Morgan Theater Building to facilitate the selection of the artist and final design. This project is the result of 59 competitive artist applications across multiple states, a thoughtful multi-organization selection process, public input sessions and generous contributions.
This project is supported with financial assistance from the West Virginia Department of Tourism, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Organizational Arts Grant, a collaborative effort between Your Community Foundation and Arts Council of Greater Morgantown, the WV House of Delegates Local Economic Development Assistance Grant, First Energy Foundation, the City of Morgantown, Claudio Corporation, and contributions from businesses and individuals who support our mission to revitalize downtown spaces.
The Design
Inspired by the archives at Morgantown History Museum and the WV & Regional History Center, including:
- Morgan Theater Marquee depicted at High Street honors the historic building’s past as a center of entertainment, former site of the Arcade Theater and once-home to the Cosmopolitan Lunch hot dog stand.
- Streetcars and Railroads transformed Morgantown from a small village into a commercial and industrial hub by connecting the downtown with outlying industries and the greater regional rail network.
- Seneca Glass Company was the first major glass factory in the city and a globally renowned producer of some of the finest hand-blown, hand-cut, and etched lead crystal in the world. Glass from Morgantown was chosen by Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961 to be the official crystal service for the White House.
- The Mighty Monongahela River & IC Woodward Steamboat was a vital transportation link, running a regular, twice-weekly route on the Monongahela River between Pittsburgh and Morgantown.
- Pursglove Mine symbolizes the intense industrial production and associated tragedies of the Scotts Run coalfield, particularly the 1942 and 1943 mine disasters.
The People
Celebrating notable Morgantown figures:
- Thoney Pietro, Italian immigrant whose company built Morgantown’s roads, pictured with his daughters Josephine and Virginia.
- Mary Behner, Reformist who served impoverished coal mining families and founded The Shack Neighborhood House.
- Don Knotts, beloved actor and comedian made famous by The Andy Griffith Show.
- Dr. Ellie Mannette, Trinidadian innovator known as the “father of the modern steel drum” instrument, remembered locally as a passionate teacher and mentor. Inspired and included with permission from local portrait photographer Scott Frederick.
- Nancie Banks, American jazz singer and bandleader.
The Artist
Blake Wheeler is a mural painter and illustrator living in Marmet, West Virginia. He creates paintings that often surprise, inform, and spark the imagination of viewers.
His painterly images celebrate history, nature, or whimsy. His intention is to tell stories with his work, letting the work speak for itself and inspire the viewer no matter if they just give a passing glance or a close inspection.
Blake’s public art often reflects the cultural identities of West Virginia communities with nostalgia, including executed works in Charleston, Summersville, Bluefield and Marmet. This project adds Morgantown, WV to the list. Blake has a B.A. in Fine Art from West Virginia State University.
Thank You Funders and Partners of the Historic Mural.
Grants & Funding
Arts Council of Greater Morgantown
City of Morgantown
Claudio Corporation
First Energy Foundation
Monongalia County Commission
National Endowment for the Arts
Your Community Foundation
West Virginia Department of Tourism
West Virginia House of Delegates Local Economic Development Assistance Grant
Community Partners
Hotel Morgan
Top Notch Helping Hands
Donors
Joshua Hall
Steven Saab
Mountaineer Pooper Scooper
This project is supported with financial assistance from the West Virginia Department of Tourism and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Organizational Arts Grant program is made possible through a collaborative effort between Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia, Inc. (YCF) and the Arts Council of Greater Morgantown, with funding from the City of Morgantown, the Monongalia County Commission, and the Douglas H. Tanner Memorial Fund for the Arts.
Revitalizing Alleys through Beautification & Public Art.
Main Street Morgantown believes art can be a powerful tool for revitalization. Main Street Morgantown’s Alley Revitalization Initiative seeks to encourage improvement of downtown alleyways toward a welcoming and attractive district, thoughtful revitalization and property investment, and enhanced sense of place. Over the course of this initiative, Main Street Morgantown will work with local partners to improve key alleys and gateways by encouraging public artworks, lighting enhancements and improvements to the built environment.
Look at the concepts below to see how art, lighting and street furniture make downtown spaces inviting.
Explore Public Art Downtown Today.
Dive into the color and character of downtown Morgantown by exploring our vibrant public murals in the heart of our city. Each piece tells a unique story about our history, culture and spirit.
