Wall art, or murals, may have become popular through the work of Mexican artist Diego Rivera beginning in the 1930s but if you think about it, wall art has been around for as long as man. Cave art, dating back some 50,000+ years exists, and was most certainly created as a way for early man to showcase daily life. There was just no social media then to make it viral! If you want to experience some of the best murals around our country, and share it thanks to Instagram and more, picture yourself here, next time you glamp nearby:
Cincinnati: The murals found in America’s Queen City, aka Cincinnati, depict some of the city’s most famous one-time residents including Ohio native astronaut Neil Armstrong and the Godfather of Soul himself, James Brown as well as pay homage to the things that made Cincinnati famous such as the iconic Kenner Toys we love like Care Bears, Star Wars figures and Mr. Potato Head (check out the Cincinnati Toy Heritage mural) and of course, chili, of which there are several murals dedicated to the city’s famous food! To download a self-guided mural tour map, go to artworkscincinnati.org.
(Glamping accommodations can be found at Thousand Trails Wilmington)
Miami: Wynwood, which is considered Miami’s arts district, is home to Wynwood Walls, a display of murals throughout the area created by more than 100 artists from countries all over the world. And while the actual Wynwood Walls is a ticketed admission (tickets can be purchased at the Visitor Center or online via thewynwoodwalls.com), there are several other free mural displays in the area, including the walls of the buildings on the blocks surrounding Wynwood Walls, the walls of Little Havana, the city’s cultural hotspot for all things Cuban and more than 10 murals in downtown Miami. If you’re looking for a map of the Miami mural scene, check out findmasa.com/city/miami.
(Glamping accommodations can be found at Encore Miami Everglades)
Nashville: Nashville’s now-famous murals took off in the mid-2000s in an effort to beautify the urban landscape of the city. And boy, did they ever! There are now almost too many to count (use findmasa.com/city/nashville to help locate) but some of the most popular are: Dolly Parton (located in East Nashville); “What Lifts You” the 20-feet high painting of wings (located in The Gulch neighborhood); Legends Corner, depicting the music icons that put Nashville on the map (located on Lower Broadway in downtown Nashville); and the beautiful Flowers Mural (located in the 12South neighborhood).
(a glamping stay should feature the Natchez Trace Tiny House Village)
Portland: Of course, one of the hippest cities in the country would have an expansive street art collection. From the iconic “Keep Portland Weird” mural to the many, many murals depicting various species of birds including a great horned owl, a great blue heron, a western meadowlark and white doves. If you want to be like everyone else, don’t miss the Capax Infinit mural, which is said to be the most often photographed. If you want complete quirk, visit the “Art Fills the Void” mural. For a listing of murals throughout the city, visit pdxstreetart.org/findingstreetart
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