Old West Lives on in Toppenish, Washington
Town Becomes Famous for Murals Painted on Business Buildings
Aug 31, 2009
The murals reflect Toppenish’s Western and cultural heritage: Cowboys. Indians. Cavalry. Covered Wagons. Wheat Harvest. Barn Dances. Rodeos. It’s all there – and more – on the walls of Toppenish businesses. Some murals honor deceased residents who made significant contributions to the town.
Some Toppenish Murals Are 200 Feet Long
The murals come in all sizes, from some which just stretch across a building’s store front to some that are 200 feet long. The architectural style of the buildings also reflects the old West, as most are made up to resemble buildings in frontier towns in the late 1800s. These buildings and most of the murals are concentrated in the main business district which presents an ambiance not found in the modern strip malls a mile or so away.
First Mural Painted in 1989 for State's Centennial
The first mural was painted on June 3, 1989, as a project to celebrate Washington’s 100 years as a state. All cities and towns across the state were asked to undertake a civic project to celebrate the centennial. Some towns did rose gardens, others put up a pavilion in the park. Toppenish chose to paint a mural, gathering together 15 artists to create a scene of a settler clearing his land of sagebrush.
But Toppenish didn’t stop with just that one mural. Today there are 70 murals, each one representing a piece of Toppenish history and culture. The Yakima Indian Nation is headquartered in Toppenish. Toppenish is a top hop-growing region in the United States, and boasts the only hop museum in the country. One mural honors Indians as the early harvesters of this crop.
Toppenish Murals Signed by Artists
The murals are very realistic. In one instance, from a distance it appears a man is standing on a ladder painting a mural of the Toppenish rodeo, which is held every 4th of July. Visitors who draw closer will find the painter is part of the mural. Murals are signed with the names of the artists who painted them.
Some of the murals have signs explaining their significance. The Toppenish Mural Society’s website has pictures of all the murals, the order in which they were painted, what the scene depicts, and where it can be found. Maps to the murals can be picked up at the visitor information center at 504 S. Elm St., or at most businesses.
Toppenish Is City "Where the West Still Lives"
Toppenish calls itself the city “Where the West Still Lives.” And it does. So much so that American Cowboy Magazine named the town one of the 20 best places to live in the West.
Toppenish is not the only city in the Pacific Northwest to pay homage to its Western heritage. Joseph, Oregon, also has an outdoor art gallery with magnificent bronze sculptures lining its main street through town.
Toppenish is 20 miles south of Yakima on Interstate 82 which runs through central Washington. Besides murals, Toppenish’s tourist attractions are many, including a rail and steam museum, the Yakima Nation’s cultural museum, and numerous wineries.
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